The Buzz: A World in Crisis: Take Care of Yourself

We certainly are living in perilous times. There is so much going on that it sometimes makes me dizzy thinking about the litany of crises that we find ourselves in across the globe. From political strife to natural disasters wiping out entire communities and the repercussions of the unrelenting Pandemic, times are difficult for many of us. There is increased poverty on the one hand, and small businesses are going out of business. We are experiencing a “great resignation” where people are leaving the workforce in unprecedented numbers. We have people who are homeless and housing prices at the highest they have been in a decade. Parents are in a quandary about the safety of sending their children back to in-person school in the wake of the rapid spread of COVID-19’s more serious Delta variant.

Prince Harry and Dutchess Meghan released a statement this week acknowledging the “exceptionally fragile world.” They specifically mentioned the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the turmoil in Afghanistan and the Pandemic. The Prince, who did two tours in Afghanistan called for other veterans to “reach out to each other and offer support for one another.”  

Their statement was released through their charitable organization, Archwell, and went on to say: “When any person or community suffers, a piece of each of us does so with them, whether we realize it or not. And though we are not meant to live in a state of suffering, we, as a people, are being conditioned to accept it. It’s easy to find ourselves feeling powerless, but we can put our values into action — together.” The statement listed charities which they endorse and links to a number of mental health resources. 

We can see the toll that all of these issues are taking on people with astronomical increases in homicide rates, unheard of outbursts on airplanes with people needing to be duct-taped to their seats, and contentious and even violent school board meetings over mask mandates.  

It is extremely difficult not to be triggered by some of these horrible events. It is easy to lay blame, become defensive and so passionate about our own point of view that we lash out at those who have different beliefs. At its worst, this has led to threats and even violence.

Some are asking, “What is wrong with these people?” A trauma informed question might better be, “What happened to these people?”

I certainly can only answer that for myself. I have always thought of myself as fairly mentally stable. I have a strong supportive network of family, friends, and business colleagues. I am strong in my faith and try to live in a spiritual realm that protects me from transitory. However, over the past two years, the compounding of events that exacerbate human suffering make it exceedingly difficult to stay grounded with a sense of well-being. 

As someone who identifies as a Black woman DEIJ practitioner, the stress of it all can be overwhelming. The last year and a half since the George Floyd murder and all that has ensued around anti-Black racism is traumatizing by itself without adding the multitude of other anxiety-producing events.  

I have found myself needing to be more intentional about prioritizing my own well-being. I have had a back issue for over 20 years that flares up every now and then. It has been more “now” than “then” in the past few months. I am seeing a chiropractor, taking up the practice of yoga and bought a new mattress. I did not initially connect the back pain to the mental toll of the state of the world. However, I do now and am being proactive in attending to my mental health. 

Everyone is different, of course, but I implore you to find the self-care approaches that work for you. Here are some things that I am doing in no particular order. They are all important to me.

1. Regular massages: I know that everyone may not be able to afford a professional massage therapist. There are self-practices that can work too. Here is a link to self-massages for 9 body parts. 
2. Yoga: I had tried yoga many years ago and really did not like it. It not only helps my back but the breathing techniques have lessened anxiety. Again, you can practice yoga without paying an expert. There are lots of videos online.
3. Exercise: I work out with a trainer virtually three times a week and walk 2-3 miles a day. While walking I listen to books on Audible or Pandora’s Smooth Jazz.   
4. Essential Oils: I have been given essential oils several times and never really used them. I dug them out, bought a diffuser, used to fill the air in a room with tiny, breathable particles of essential oils that have different therapeutic effects. It is working well as a calming agent.
5. Meditation: Intuitively I know that meditation is good practice. However, for me it has been difficult to quiet my mind. The breathing techniques that I learn in yoga are helping me to stay focused.  
6. Netflix: Sometimes on weekends, I binge watch Netflix series. My latest addiction is Grace and Frankie, a comedy that keeps me in stitches. I intentionally disconnect from news outlets on weekends. 
7. Connecting to my faith: By doing so, I am reminded that there is a higher power. Last week Dr. Michael Beckwith, founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center asked: What pulls your attention? Do you attend to those things which appear to be negative, disempowering, or depressing; or is your attention drawn to that which is inherently good and beautiful? It is your choice. 
8. Connecting with family and friends: I check in with people that I care about and who care about me. We are all impacted in some way by world events and even more so by our individual personal issues or crises that we may be faced with. It is just good to hear the voices of my loved ones and share space with them, albeit mostly virtual.

I have not yet sought professional counseling or therapy, but I absolutely believe in it and recommend it as an important aspect of self-care. Megan Ellinghausen offered a list of mental health resources last month in recognition of BIPOC Mental Health Month. 

I may have once believed that pressing on, pushing through, being resilient was the best approach to handle whatever adversities I faced. I am learning that it is not only okay but necessary for my well-being to set boundaries and not feel guilty about taking care of me. I hope you are finding your sacred practices that bring you peace and joy. Do take good care of yourself.