427- Covid19 : let's cope in unity

Everyone says we're living in a strange, unique, difficult time, and in many ways, this is true. 
In this period of uncertainty, fears and isolation, we are going through a collective trauma as individuals, families, friends, cities, nations, and the entire world. 


As collectives of societies in the world, many have had other collective traumas - some were still ongoing at the onset and spread of this covid19 virus. There have been times, during or after those collective traumas, where the world had united to fight common enemies and survive common threats. Now, the enemy is invisible, it's a damn virus. 

Because of its risks, many governments asked us to isolate and remain at home, alone or as families, depending on cases and where we were when all this started. Thousands of people are still left waiting to go back home, and many of us already at home are isolating, respecting the rules in limited outings and barrier gestures.

This particular trauma is shared, on a global scale, as the virus is present all over the world and can infect anyone, even healthy, and doesn't discriminate. It has disrupted life on many levels, such as having to work from home, or temporarily lose sources of income, hobbies, occupations and our general physical health that depends partially on outdoor physical activities have all been put on hold. We have to adapt and change everything in an upside down world, that changed radically over a short period of time, and this is jarring to all of us.

A lot have been struggling with fears as to the outcome of this disease, of catching it or that loved ones would be exposed and catch it ; fears that cause legitimate anxieties and may increase any pre-existing anxiety disorder or other health concerns, physical and/or mental alike. 

A lot also struggle with the isolation itself, because we're all, more or less, social creatures - even those of us, like me, who are introverts AND also suffer from mental illnesses, including social phobia.

I suspect extroverts might suffer from this more, tending to be super active, socializing, partying, generally being out and about ; but even us introverts - and socially anxious- can be affected, though we're more used to remain alone, in our corner and occupy ourselves.

I've heard from friends that they were struggling with this isolation, impacts on routines, work or studies, sleeping patterns, motivation, fear and anxiety about the virus, either for themselves or loved ones ; some are with their significant others, families, or totally alone due a reason or another. 

I personally chose to check on on my mom and nan via phone calls, and already contacted most of my friends, to check on their well-being, to offer them support and virtual company by chatting on any available social media we have in common. I also started a small project, akin to an e-card, using the game Love Nikki Dress Up Queen, to recreate, immortalize, photos of my friends into a "Nikki" and sent these creations to a few of these friends already. Between these chats and Nikki-ecards, I saw how these friends reacted positively to the renewed, or increased, attention and more frequent contact.  

I'd like us all to keep an eye on one another, to offer support, distractions, and keep one another virtual company, because it's the best way to bridge distance and fight loneliness in isolation. 

As the poet Khalil Gibran said : A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain? , and so, during covid19's lockdown, we all inhabit the valley, overlooking the mountains around us. By reaching out, we bridge the gap and climb the proverbial mountain, to admire the beautiful flowers : our friends and loved ones. During this difficult period, we can see the benefits of technology, offering us social media and human contact which wouldn't be possible otherwise.

Chatting, talking and supporting one another aren't the sole tools at our disposal in coping ; we can and probably should keep a routine, a schedule, so not to perturb our sleeping patterns and daily activities. I find that having a variety of activities to do, as well as keeping schedule, have personally helped me, much like my friends' chats. I try to go to bed at about the same time - though it's ever so slightly later than before, but not overly so, around 11-11:30 PM. I get up around 7:30 AM, though I still get up once or twice per night, and have had a couple super early mornings, where I couldn't sleep any-more around 6-6:30.  

I alternate activities so I don't do the same exact ones in repetition, day in day out, but try to keep a steady pace. Thus, additionally to my weekly flat cleaning, consisting of dusting, vacuum and floor steaming - helped by my wife when she's able - I've also started spring cleaning, a much deeper and more thorough cleaning of each room in our flat - starting in the kitchen, emptying, moving and cleaning furnitures and floors under them, as well as windows, curtains and other laundry tasks. 

Of course, daily dish washing, and/or cooking (depending on my wife's physical pains) are part of my routine. Other activities include reading books, blogs, commenting or composing/editing my own entries. 

I've done some gaming on several platforms (android, pc/facebook, ps3), watching tv shows and movies, listening to music, and the occasional outings for walks around the block, or grocery shopping at the local supermarket. 

I resumed self-care routines that I'd left undone, making sure I shave more often, did some face masks, and the usual showers.You'll see my overall routines in entry 417.

I'll try to gather various resources on activities, things to do, to watch and listen to during this lockdown, as distractions we can all combine and share, here and other social media, but, also put an emphasis on the necessity to keep our human touch, so, let's chat, shall we ? Mutual support is vital and welcome. 

In short, let's unite, combine our tools and keep in touch, despite social distancing.

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