Coping Through the Winter During COVID-19

What do I know about coping during the winter during a global pandemic? Certainly nothing from experience. I know a lot of us are feeling a sense of impending doom regarding this coming winter, but I am here to say that we can get through this and come out on the other side. Every one of us has experienced some sort of grief and loss throughout the timeline of this pandemic to varying degrees. I am wondering who has really worked to cope and work through their grief and loss, however. That is what I believe we need to do to maintain our sense of hope and our ability to cope during this incredibly difficult time.

Many of us hold onto stresses that we do not even realize in our bodies. Physical ailments, such as digestive and bowel issues, acid reflux, shingles, and acne can be ailments we experience as a result of stress (not to imply you should make this assumption and skip a visit to the doctor to have issues checked out, however). There have been many times in my life that you could have asked me if I felt stress and I would have said no, genuinely not feeling stress, but then my body would have told a very different story. It is important that we focus both on the physical and emotional aspects of stress.

To cope with our emotions, it is vital that we address that they are there. I know how tempting it is to hold back tears, jump to frustration instead of feeling exhaustion, or overcompensate to avoid our shortcomings, but none of these help us address and overcome our feelings. This may feel very uncomfortable and generally bad in the moment, but feelings are fleeting. The majority of us do not experience our feelings for more than 20-30 minutes. I encourage you to take on that 30 minutes of being uncomfortable, sad, angry, and all of the emotions in between, so that you do not carry that with you for days, months, or even years. Journal about how you are feeling, talk to someone you can be vulnerable with, cry, yell, or scream into a pillow if you need. Do what you need to (safely) experience and release what you are feeling.

To experience physical release, we often need to engage in something physical. This does not mean that you need to engage in intense exercise, but that can be helpful for some. Have you ever had a knot in your back or a really sore muscle? Typically to relieve that you would engage in stretching or massage techniques and overtime start to feel release: think of releasing your emotions in a physical manner like that. Walking, exercise, yoga, massage, a sauna, or soaking in a hot bath can all help to release our physical tension and the emotions that are held in our physical bodies. When deciding what to do, always pay attention to your body and needs in the moment. With anxiety, for example, I find it most helpful to run or do intense physical exertion, because it raises my heart rate and exhausts my body in a way that calms me down quickly. When feeling sad or hopeless, I find it more helpful to soak in a hot bath or to engage in yoga.

It is important to remember that our bodies and emotions are dynamic. Even when our feelings in the moment subside, they can still be present in our bodies and different parts of our brains. I certainly do not want to insert a problem where there isn’t one, but remember that just because we are “over” something, it doesn’t mean that our body is as well. Our bodies and minds are holistic; we are whole beings so when treating and caring for one we are treating and caring for the other. This is also why something like depression or anxiety, for example, has so many physiological and somatic symptoms as well – when our minds are struggling, our body is as well. This is why caring for your whole body is vital. So while your mind may be feeling the stress of the winter during the pandemic, your body will be experiencing that as well.

Now let’s bring this back around to the winter during the pandemic. Identify the losses that you are experiencing and grieve those losses both physically and emotionally: do not avoid the feelings of loss and grief. Remember that the majority of our resources for managing difficult emotions are already in our homes or at our fingertips. There are journals that can be bought and shipped to your home for a fair price, or can be bought at most dollar stores, if you are comfortable leaving. A hot shower or bath, while a luxury, is something most of us are able to do. Going out for a run, watching a yoga video on YouTube, or listening to a guided meditation on YouTube are all free, readily available coping resources for us. While I understand that many of us, especially extroverts, feel refreshed from doing things with others and may not feel the same release from doing yoga alone versus with a class, I still encourage you to try. Address the loss you’re experiencing and the longing to be with others, but continue to work to release at least some of those emotions.