How to Be Home with COVID 19 & Not Create New Challenges For Yourself

The situation we’re in with the coronavirus is uncharted territory. As I speak to many of my clients there seems to be a recurring theme going on that requires a conversation that we need to have now and not wait.

We don’t know what’s going on, what it’s going to look like in the future and it’s in these times that we need to support people at an even higher level. One of the underlying challenges I have seen are the choices people are making have not been in the best state of mind. More people are reacting than responding to the present situation and common sense is being thrown out the window.

Realize that when we’re stressed, overwhelmed or frustrated we may resort to an unresourceful state. And what I mean by that is my mentor, Dr Bandler, once said, “When people are stressed, they do STUPID!”

It doesn’t mean you are stupid. You may DO STUPID! Lately, it’s been a recurring theme, not just for people I know, but for myself. If you are making poor decisions, you can trace back and see that you probably were not in the most resourceful place at that time. So, with that being said, I just want to share some thoughts you may not have thought to be important, but if we pay attention to the road ahead, they are.

If you’re not used to being at home or if you’ve always worked from home, but now you have other family members there with you there is a new norm.  The dynamics may have changed with your family, with your kids, with your spouse.

There may be other people interrupting your flow even if your used to being home. Some of the things I see people doing are challenging me.  The other day we went to ShopRite, the bread aisle was empty, the milk was gone, the candy isle looked like there was a buy one get one free sale. All I could think of was, “why are people choosing unhealthy choices in a time of crisis when we have to strengthen our immune system”.

You have to be making better choices to make sure you stay healthy. Milk being a mucus forming product, which can cause allergy challenges and other symptoms of illness. Making you more susceptible to stuff other health problems. Putting bread in your body, which is just flour and water, which makes paste. Something I used when I was a kid to make paper mache.

When the news is telling us that the people that are the most susceptible to the COVID 19 and not surviving are elderly who have immune systems, compromised. In addition, young children who haven’t developed yet or people that are diabetic.

So when I hear this, it really saddens me to think that people are putting bread, sugar, dairy and processed food (garbage) into their body you need to know that’s not the defense against the Coronavirus right now. The defense is taking care of your health, boosting your immune system, choosing wisely. If you feel the need to load up on anything choose healthy vegetables, fruits, clean proteins.

This is even more personal to me because my mom, who has had many medical challenges, has an elective surgery going on that they may be postponing. We had learned through diet that some of her challenges that were causing her immense pain were dramatically reduced when she eliminated certain food groups. Now with the scarcity mindset of the COVID 19, she decides to go buy dairy products like cottage cheese and yogurt which isn’t good for her. And I said, mom, I thought we, we figured out you shouldn’t be having dairy. She said, “I just want to make sure I have food in the house because who knows how long I’m going to be in here.”

Now I don’t think my mother’s unique. I think there’s a lot of people in that fear, fight and flight response right now that are “not necessarily doing smart” and that bothered me. I said, “Wow mom, that’s not the best thing for you. You don’t need to be having that. There are enough other resources out there to get what you need. She answered, “which is why I need to make sure I have protein”.  “What are you talking about? There are so many other sources of protein. It doesn’t have to be that”. So, I really want you to start looking at some of the things you’re doing because here’s what I’m projecting.

I’m projecting. If we get stuck in our home for the next month or two, we’re going to have people that will be 10 to 20 pounds heavier, more predisposed to diabetes or other kinds of illness. We are going to have other issues they’re going have to deal with more than just the coronavirus that they haven’t thought about. I believe you must stand guard at the gate of your mind. It is as important as anything else.

The other day my husband went to Costco and I said, “make sure nothing comes into our home that’s not healthy.” Now, please listen to why I said that. I used to have an eating disorder. I spent 13 years in dis-ease with myself while dealing with an eating disorder, compulsive overeater and bulimic. I was consuming anywhere between $50k-$100k a year in food. Some people have addictions with alcohol, smoking, shopping, sex, gambling, mine was food. Today I have 26 years of abstinence from hurting myself which means I don’t allow myself to indulge in self-deprecating behavior.  I found new healthy means to deal with my emotions.  I hear many people use these times as an excuse to continue to hurt themselves and I am suggesting you take this time to love yourself and choose wisely.

When you’re stressed, you’re going to go back to whatever was familiar for you whether is was resourceful or not. So if your ism, your dis-ease, when you don’t feel good about things is doing things like shopping or eating or drinking or other things that aren’t going to serve you, then you need to be aware at this time. A lot of people are stressed, rightly so.  You get to choose how you are going to deal with things in a place that will serve you versus not.

Start thinking of ways you can be resourceful. Start my not putting things in your home that don’t work for you. If you’re saying to yourself, we’re not going to be ever going out again, let me buy this big jar of ice cream. Well, do you really need ice cream? Because if you going to live tomorrow and life’s going to be okay with ice cream be on the top of your list and is that the story your telling yourself to fill a need right now? Ask yourself, “do I really need to get that?”

Here’s what I’m seeing, more illnesses come from people’s immune system not being taken care of while they are loading themselves up with food what will not give them life but take it away. People taking care of themselves by exercising, making sure they’re drinking enough water, alkalizing their diet, whether it be lemon water or apple cider vinegar.

The best defense, washing your hands, being smart. If you go out, take your clothes off, wash them, shower and put new clothes on not to be touching your face. There are things we can be doing including not putting garbage in your body that’s going to make you sicker. That’s not an option right now.

Find things to do that will lift your spirits. You know when you’re healthy and you’re laughing and you’re having a good time, it harder to get sick. You need to be doing things that fill you up. We just had a social online with 30 people. We were at laughing and having fun. We were focused on connecting with each other and filling our emotional bank accounts with love.

We still have to have life go on. We still need to support ourselves in some manner. I encourage you to support the local businesses that are open even if you’re ordering from them and having them deliver so that we make sure that businesses are in business tomorrow. When we’re done with this, it’s important to continue to support the economy.  Also, to support yourself mentally what you’re putting in your head. If you’re watching the news 24/7 you’re only hearing negative stuff. You’re going to feel like you’re in a fear fright mode and I’m going to encourage you to find some light in it all by counting your blessings. Find something to be grateful for there is always good to be found.

Find some light with some family members and friends connecting online. I encourage you to do it. We had a sing-along one night with one of our friends, another group I know did a movie online together where they were using zoom and sharing conversations. Whether it’s a Facebook LIVE or whatever it is, create the community, connect with people in that way.

Most important please choose you, what I mean by that is choose healthy. Take care of yourself in this time. There is no excuse to not be doing that. Not nourishing yourself in a healthy way. You don’t need to eat twice the food used to eat before just because it’s there. If you’re bored, you find something else you can do and stay out of the kitchen and close the pantry cabinets.

Ask yourself better questions; What is it I really want in this moment? Do I want a hug, do I want attention? Do I want to be around people? Do I need to pick up the phone? Do you need you to do something else? Maybe I need a nap but ask yourself better questions before you do things that aren’t going to serve you for the long run.

I love you and want you to take care of yourself. Share this if you think it’s going to help somebody. I think we need to start helping people by being the light in what feels like darkness.

Let’s pray for the people that need our help. Let’s be there to support them in the best possible way we can but do that by taking care of yourself first. I love you! Be safe, healthy and happy! I Love You! Thank you!

If you feel like you are having a hard time emotionally dealing with all this reach out I can help you.