As I’m writing this it’s a beautiful spring day, sunny and warm, with trees flowering outside my window. The kind of day that anticipates the fun of spring and summer after being cooped up during the cold days of winter. The anticipation is even greater this year than at the end of a normal winter, because things have not been “normal” for so long. It’s been over a year that we have been living with the coronavirus pandemic and with the many precautions we have taken to protect ourselves and others from illness and death. Many of us, myself included, are longing for the warm weather to bring a return to normal life and the end of masks, social distancing and isolation in our homes. We want to plan fun outings with friends and relatives instead of searching the internet for vaccine appointments.

We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there. We need to be patient and smart about what we do for a while longer. And we need to continue to take care of ourselves — of our mental health as well as our physical well-being.

Since last spring, health care professionals have been warning about the impact of the pandemic on mental health, and  research done in the past year has confirmed that people have experienced increased stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, loneliness, and depression. Diagnosed mental health conditions have worsened. There have been increases in the incidence of domestic violence and in drug and alcohol use. People of any age can be affected. Remote learning and isolation from friends has caused problems for children and teens and for the adults who live and work with them and love them.

In addition, the coronavirus itself can cause mental health problems, as physicians and patients report new-onset delusions, hallucinations, anxiety and depression.

You would hope that with vaccines available, this would all magically disappear, but it has not. Experts have now identified what they call “post-lockdown anxiety,” as people find that they are afraid to leave isolation, and experience anxiety or dread as they prepare to return to work, school or other outside activities. This anxiety can stem from a fear of infection or fear triggered by leaving the relatively secure and stable environment of their homes.   

This all sounds very disturbing during a time when we are eagerly looking forward to returning to life the way it was before Covid (or something resembling that.) What do we do to cope?

Of course, we should continue to do the things that helped us get through the past year: try to eat well, get regular exercise, and maintain communication with friends and loved ones by phone, video chat, or socially distanced meetings outdoors. Avoid spending large amounts of time on social media or watching the news. People can now get together in person without masks in small groups, indoors or out, if everyone has been fully vaccinated. And even though we must continue to wear masks and practice social distancing, we can be back together in worship on Sunday and Wednesday mornings (albeit with no singing).

Here is an article that you may find helpful. It has many coping strategies.

Some people may find that they are experiencing symptoms that persist, despite efforts at self-care. These symptoms may include prolonged anxiety or depression, social withdrawal, substance abuse, confused thinking, delusions or hallucinations, excessive feelings of anger or fear, extreme swings in emotion, inability to cope with daily problems, major changes in eating or sleeping patterns, or numerous unexplained physical ailments. These symptoms may be new since the beginning of the pandemic, or they may be related to a previous mental health condition. This is a time to reach out to a professional for help.

There are many ways to get help. You can begin by talking with your primary care physician and asking for a referral to a therapist or psychiatrist. You can also reach out to one of the many agencies in our area who are eager to help you, with virtual or in person counseling sessions.  NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) has re-opened their drop-in centers, and Thrive Counseling Center of Oak Park offers services that include a 24-hour crisis line (708-383-7500). Other resources include Genesis Therapy Centers  (will make referrals for the Oak Park area), Leyden Family Service, and Cornerstone Counseling of Chicago.

Also, you can call me at Grace (708-366-6900 ext 219), and we can talk about how you can access the services that you need. 

If you are feeling suicidal or thinking of hurting yourself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-2738255).  You can also text using the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Text “TALK” TO 552020 (or “HABLAR” for Spanish).

Here at Grace

In March, Grace hosted a Zoom presentation by NAMI addressing the mental health issues that young people have been facing and strategies for coping. Folks at Grace are working on more ways to make Grace a more inclusive place for people living with mental health challenges. If you are interested in learning more about this or becoming involved, contact me or Pastor Troy.

Finally, please get vaccinated!! Vaccines are now widely available for everyone 16 years of age and older. The sooner we reach herd immunity, the sooner we can be together again! To schedule an appointment in Cook County visit  Community Vaccination Program (cookcountyil.gov) Walk-ins are now available at many sites. Or go to the web sites of Osco, Walgreens, CVS or Mariano’s.