Some of the most difficult experiences we can encounter come after we’ve been injured and begin the prospect of healing.
Regardless of whether our injuries are physical, emotional, mental or spiritual, the journey back always seems daunting. Yet we’re full of hope, empowered by a desire to move forward.
After more than a year of Covid-19 lockdown, some states are reopening indoor dining, movie theaters, gyms and theme parks. Fading away are rigorous mandates such as always wearing masks in public or the placement of plexiglass between customers and retailers. Local businesses, the default enforcers of so many pandemic regulations and restrictions, are becoming a little more relaxed.
A relief on so many levels … but now comes another hard part: How to re-enter the world after been deprived for so long of normal ways of being, interacting and relating. Research shows levels of anxiety and depression rose considerably during 2020’s lockdown. For many people, social media and various virtual realities became safe havens. These are havens from which they must return.
We are now cheered yet challenged by messages that go something like: “The Covid war is not over, but it’s over more than it was. You can let down your guard now, enjoy yourself, but be sure to follow all of the new guidelines.”
This sort of mixed message no doubt leaves many ill at ease.
Unlike the day World War II was declared over, the war on Covid-19 has not ended; the virus has just relaxed its pandemic grip, at least for the moment.
When WWII prisoners of war returned home after years of internment, the trauma of their experiences was profound. Even learning to eat a complete meal proved daunting. Many POWs starved while in hard labor camps.
Returning to normal circumstances after so long felt overwhelming and scary. A full meal was something that had been absent for so long; literally their stomachs were not able to cope with the richness or the volume of a normal plate of food.
What did they do? They slowly and steadily ventured back into the real world by eating small amounts of food, piece by piece, as feelings ebbed and flowed. Grief and anger surfaced then quelled, as a commitment to returning their former lives took time — quite some time in fact — despite deep desires to forget what had gone before.
In many ways, the war on Covid-19 still has many mistrusting of its permanent recession, and for good reason. While reports of progress seem encouraging, it is normal for those venturing out once again to have a sense of uncertainty.
A similar approach to the POWs re-engaging with the world could prove beneficial. Take small steps. Dine indoors at a café. Learn again to enjoy our communities and small businesses. But with reasonable caution.
Carl Jung spoke about the “tension of the opposites.” Meaning it is possible to hold two sets of feelings at the same time. In this case the ability to embrace joy and caution at the same time. Feeling our way back into the world is essential for so many mental health reasons.
Turning this corner with a balanced perspective brings relief and hope for a return to life deeply loved and shared with one another.
Photo by Christian Heins
More help with Covid-19 mental health: