This week

Hello everyone, I hope you are coping okay with the changes that are bearing down on us all at a rapid rate of knots. 

I stared this post last week, thinking it should have a light-hearted air, but things keep changing don't they, and I am in a quandary as to what people are looking for.  

I woke up this morning thinking that perhaps a more authentic tone that embraces my worries, is perhaps what is more appropriate, so I will start by sharing the most helpful advice I have seen yet on what we are facing.

I am leading you to an article by Aisha S Ahmad, published in The Chronicle of Higher Education.  It was shared on Facebook.  I have included some excerpts and paraphrased/condensed key points below, but you can read the full article here. 

It starts … Global catastrophes change the world, and this pandemic is very much akin to a major war.  Even if we contain the Covid-19 crisis within a few months, the legacy of this pandemic will live with us for years, perhaps decades to come. 

It will change the way we move, build, learn, and connect. There is simply no way that our lives will resume as if this had never happened.  And so, while it may feel good in the moment, it is foolish to dive into a frenzy of activity or obsess about your .. productivity right now.  That is denial and delusion.  The emotionally and spiritually sane response is to prepare to be forever changed.

The author goes on the suggest that we'll go through 3 stages. She says:

Stage 1: Security

The first few days and weeks are crucial and you should make ample room to allow for a mental adjustment. It is perfectly normal to feel bad and lost.  Consider it a good thing that you are not in denial and that you are allowing yourself to work through anxiety. No sane person feels good during a global disaster, so be grateful for the discomfort of your sanity. Focus on food, family, friends and maybe fitness (but don't put ridiculous expectations on this).  Get sensible essentials, clean your house, make a family plan. Have reasonable conversations about emergency preparedness. Devise a strategy for social connectedness with family, friends and/or neighbours. Identify the vulnerable and make sure they are connected. Build a home team. 

Stage 2: Mental Shift

Once your have secured yourself and your team, you will feel more stable, your mind and body will adjust and your brain will reset to the new conditions. But you will need to embrace humility and patience - and be authentic to your feelings. Be slow. Once you make this mental shift your ability to do higher level work will resume.  

Stage 3: Embrace a New Normal

On the other side of the shift your wonderful, creative, resilient brain will be waiting for you. Things will start to feel more natural. When your foundations are strong do the easy things first and build up to the heavy lifting. Continue to embrace your mental shift. This is the time to wake up early, build a weekly schedule that prioritises the security of your home team, and then carve out time blocks for other things, like work etc. Understand this a marathon. And work towards establishing your serenity, productivity and wellness whilst you recognise that these may well be sustained disaster conditions with no particular end date. 

The author concludes by noting: 

We are just at the beginning of th[e] journey. For most people, our minds have not come to terms with the fact that the world had already changed … right now, denial only serves to delay the essential process of acceptance, which will allow us to reimagine ourselves in this new reality. On the other side of this journey of acceptance are hope and resilience.  

This last week I have been talking with my sisters and parents about what we are going to do, I have been setting up a system for delivering food to my parents, I have been rearranging my home so that both my husband and I can set up home offices, I have been a bit over-zealous with following the news, and I have been obsessively cleaning my kitchen. I have left the children to go bananas wtih device time. Reading this article made me feel normal, and that perhaps I was on an okay track.  I hope it is helpful for you too. 

Clearly I am firmly embedded in stage 1. and am focused on building a home team, and putting in place the scaffolding/support structures that I know I will need for the next 6 months as physical distancing becomes a reality.

How to build a home team? Here are some questions we can ask ourselves, our friends and our neighbours. Do you have:

• A couple of people you can call for a chat regularly? If the answer if no, please contact us on 9499 7227 and we can look at matching you/them up with others in our community who'd be happy to check in regularly.

• All the new social media set up and in place? You really should do this. The digital age has arrived with a bang - even those anti-digital folks the time has come! If you don't know how and feel overwhelmed by the thought just give us a call on 9499 7227.  We'll help you, or connect you up with someone who can help you.  So you can:

  • Get Facebook and connect up with people in the community.  You can use it to connect up with family and friends virtually, or just to connect in to community groups to feel like you are part of something bigger.  For example you can join the Fairfield 3078 Community Group for local news and ideas, Mums in Darebin, Victoria Group for mum contacts and advice, or you might like to join an art group or  a professional association that will keep you connected.  

  • Get Zoom and/or HouseParty Apps and arrange for your family and friends to sign up too - then you can talk to people face to face.  It is pretty nice to see others without makeup on and wearing nothing but leisurewear! And have a drink with them, or share a meal with them online. 

• Access to reliable news and the latest updates?

  • Join What's App and sign up for the Federal Government bulletin. 

  • It is also really good to follow key people on Facebook. Our local State Member Kat Theophanous is doing a fantastic job publishing all the media releases and latest news. Ged Kearney is also publishing Federal Government information. You might like to follow these people.

  • And you can also access The Guardian Australia for free and download the ABC App for news or to listen to the radio whenever you are. 

• Someone to deliver your food if you are over 70? You can get a person you know to do this, or you can set up an online order with Woolworths or Coles.  Businesses like Biviano's in Fairfield are also offering free delivery. If you shop somewhere regularly perhaps call and ask about deliveries. They might deliver to you. And if you need help organising this, or you need emergency food you can call us on 9499 7227 and we'll help you work it out. 

We're all a bit overwhelmed, so remember to be kind to yourself.  I am reminding myself of this as I sit at my messy dining table typing. 

And also, if you are feeling like it is all a bit much for you to handle, Anne who is a regular counsellor at our centre has contacted me to say that she is adept at Skype (another App you might need) counselling - and can assist you in learning skills to manage anxiety or other overwhelming feelings that might arise in these unusual times. Her number is 0409 237 545. She is Medicare accredited and has a sliding fee scale. She has also offered to help out people who can no long afford to pay. Thanks Anne!

Once again I remind you that you should feel free to call if you need any help (our office phone 9499 7227 is diverted to me) or email with your ideas, things you'd like to share etc. Our email is info@alphington.org.au.

I hope this is all useful information for you.

Cheers

Leanne