Cannot pour from an empty cup
The COVID-19 pandemic has really made it hard to carry on. I don’t know about your, but I think I will need a vacation after the quarantine is lifted. Let me clear: I’m not interested in being called out for recommending everyone else do the same and subsequently starting the second wave of COVID-19. Not interested in that affiliation, whatsoever. Please continue to shelter in place and dig deep for morale and your own welfare. Dig really deep.
As a professional in the mental healthcare and behavioral healthcare industries, my work never stops. If anything, it has felt so much more charged and draining with the COVID-19 scare. It’s heightened the intensity of every crisis tenfold. I imagine other professionals in this space are feeling it too. Therapists who went into this work to run individual or group therapy sessions in person are now forced to continue to provide the same level of congruence and empathy through telehealth platforms. Mental Health providers who are trained to acknowledge a conflict of interest when they see one. An example of that being if there was a trauma in a community that you lived in and it impacted you as a therapist personally, you would be triggered and unable to provide support to your neighbor. We are living and working in unprecedented times. The therapists are impacted by COVID-19 personally too. So, how we separate? And more importantly, how do we continue to give to our clients when we now have our own empty cup?
My self-care practices that worked pre-COVID-19 are now proving to not provide the same stress-relief. My daily walks with my dog although are enjoyable for both of us, I am finding that it’s just not enough. My Zoom calls with family and colleagues provide temporary enjoyment, and yet I’m missing the physical touch. My cup will continue to remain empty until I can hug another human again. I’m finding that it’s harder and harder to give, when there’s nothing left for myself. These are tough times for those of us who are struggling. And let’s be real, that’s a lot of us. We have to admit we’re struggling. We have to share with others our personal pains. We have to lift or prop each other up during this ambiguous time. And if you’re the lucky one who still feels like your cup is running over, make share the excess? Or clue us into how you’re managing to still have a full cup.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
