Is your brain squishy?
My counselor friend Shannon put into words what I’d been feeling for months: brain fog. Do you know what I mean? Poor concentration, inability to focus, and … trouble getting motivated.
It’s been ridiculously hard to get going these past few months. Just putting on clean socks is an awe-inspiring accomplishment, right? Almost everyone’s brain has become squishy!
WHAT HELPS TO UN-SQUISH YOUR BRAIN:
1. Name the problem.
2. Use your God-given wisdom to move forward.
Name the problem.
We all are living through the health CRISIS called coronavirus as well as its spinoffs (business closures, school interruptions, political chaos, riots, et cetera). The resulting stress contributes to mental fatigue, increased anxiety, irritability, sadness, feeling “off” — that is, a squishy brain!
The Webster’s New World Dictionary defines crisis as “a turning point in the course of anything, a decisive or crucial time, stage, or event.”
Use your God-given wisdom to move forward.
By definition, people in crisis are beyond their normal ability to cope. At the very least, people in crisis need safety, rest, and support.
SAFETY
SAFETY: Perhaps you or a loved one became unemployment or fear becoming infected with the coronavirus. Either way, life seems risky and unpredictable. You feel unsafe. Three small actions you might take:
- Ask a trustworthy friend to isten as you share your fears.
- Daily do a simple positive action, such as making the bed or taking a walk.
- Memorize a verse in the Bible, maybe this one …
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep: for you along, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
REST
REST: Good sleep and regular downtime keep us sane, but it may seem impossible to shut off intrusive thoughts, right? The last place to find peace, however, is social media. Mindless scrolling adds to stress.
My counselees Susan in Texas, Kelsey in the Midwest, and Allie on the East Coast each heeded my counsel and took a social media hiatus, and their anxiety dropped like a rock. Better sleep, more smiles, less worry. But another counselee kept giving in to the temptation to check Instagram and Facebook, to her detriment.
SUPPORT
SUPPORT: Don’t go it alone. Even seeing people in masks may add to the disconnect. So how do we get support in a crisis, especially a health crisis? Counterintuitively, we get support as we give it!
One of my counselees, who lives in Ontario and is a new Christian, began attending a new church via lifestream and reached out to the church secretary, and they’ve become prayer partners!
Remember, you are not alone. The Lord is with you, helping you conquer your fear.
Giving hope and help, anywhere and anytime,
Dr. Lucy Ann Moll
P.S. Do you need help in your struggles? Contact me to set up a free phone consult.
