In my last article, I introduced the concept of “Crisis Fatigue” which is the fatigue that follows when a stressful incident becomes enduring or chronic. I explained what it entails and talked about its 4 stages (heroic, honeymoon, disillusionment, and fatigue).
Now that we have a good understanding of what Crisis Fatigue is we can start talking about how to cope while you’re experiencing it.
I always recommend starting by seeking help from a licensed therapist or counselor in order to have a trained professional guide you through your process of coping and healing. There are many practical ways to help mitigate the effects of crisis fatigue on your life, check out these 5 tips to get you started.
5 Tips to Cope with Crisis Fatigue
- Practice Mindfulness - practicing mindfulness consistently can improve your ability to cope with stress and lessen the physiological reaction that your body has while experiencing crisis fatigue.
- Be Aware of Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms - Negative coping mechanisms such as alcohol, drugs, or shopping sprees can feel like a great “quick fix” but they don’t actually fix the problem and usually create more harm than good.
- Embrace Grief - Crisis creates loss and loss always brings grief. There is so much to grieve right now - the life you had before the pandemic, lost loved ones, cancellation of important milestones like weddings, and more. Allow yourself to feel the loss of these important things and don’t shut off your emotions.
- Change the Narrative - We all tell ourselves a story in our minds and for many people that story becomes their reality. Be mindful of your own personal narrative and take every chance you can to acknowledge the sadness but also put an emphasis on glimmers of hope and positivity in this time.
- Maintain Perspective - This is an especially scary time because we don’t have any definitive “end date”...but we all know there will be an end to all of this. Maintain perspective during this time that while it may be very difficult right now, this too will pass with time and we’ll make it through to the other side.
We are all going through such a difficult time together as a nation and the opportunity for anxiety, stress, and depression to infiltrate our lives is huge. However, there is a way to make it through this time and come out on the other side mentally stronger and healthier - it just takes work and a little guidance. I’d love to guide you on this journey and help you every step of the way. If you’d like to set up a time to talk please email me at leemiller.therapist@gmail.com or call my office at (310) 614-0323.
