A psychologist's friendly reminder of the little things we can do to be okay in difficult times - ABC Everyday
There’s been a lot recently, hasn’t it? Another COVID-19 spike, a terrible flu season, floods in New South Wales, monkeypox, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the overthrow of Roe v Wade in the United States, soaring cost of living. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and closed off, you’re not alone. I’ve spent the last few weeks lying on the couch unconscious after work, wreaking havoc. I feel anxious, apathetic, lonely and sad. If you or anyone you know needs help: I had hoped it would be a good year with more certainty, but in the middle of the year I found myself in a space that was just as restless as the last two years, but with less expectations and more cognitive fatigue to boot. When things get so tough and we start to realize that maybe the world as we know it has shifted, we have to give ourselves time to adjust to the new realities and build the skills we need to adapt. Meanwhile, it’s very easy to forget the little things we need to do to be okay, or to remember why we do these thi