How to deal with nonstop crisis mode
I've run into so many people lately who have commented on being tired of saying how tired and stressed they are. What makes it especially hard is there still doesn't seem to be a clear end in sight to the huge amount of stress we are facing day to day. These last few years have seen so much tragedy, so much destruction- there have been national crises, global crises, and it just isn’t slowing down. WIth all of this as our regular backdrop, we are supposed to just carry on- with jobs, caring for our families, with life. Yes, I know this is feeling bleak- stay with me here.
Recently I read an article talking about crisis fatigue. That is when stress becomes chronic and persists for weeks, months, or years, and has harmful effects, leading to crisis fatigue. This often shows up as either being super reactive to situations (irritable, easily frustrated and snapping at others) or being more withdrawn and shut down. As this stress has continued on, mental health needs have grown more acute, physical signs of stress abound and everyone is just totally exhausted. Any of those things sound familiar?
It can feel daunting to figure out the way out and more recently there has been an awareness that the usual strategies for coping with anxiety may not be enough. Why? Because so much of the research is done on how to handle a crisis that maybe just happened- and that there is some closure in sight. That isn’t the case and probably won’t be either in the near future. So if you feel like your self care practices aren’t making the positive impact in the way they used to, you are certainly not alone! This doesn’t mean you abandon all of it and throw your hands up. Those practices remain as important as ever. But it may be helpful to start thinking about practices in the here and now, and some practices that can help with longer term, chronic stress that has been impacting us collectively. There are certainly so many ways to attend to your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. I’ve noticed a few repeated themes come up in doing some research on crisis fatigue:
Be mindful of what you consume- across the board whether that be food, but especially information and news.
Don’t drop your basic self care practices- sleep, movement, nutrition- you know all of these things.
Find ways to connect to your community where you can connect and contribute. Maybe that is volunteering at an organization or letter writing campaigns. Read up on places doing good work and helping out those around you. As Mr. Rogers once said- Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping
Attend to your nervous system and find ways to relax and regulate. There are ways to do this in the moment, and there are strategies for building the resilience of your nervous system in the long term.
Nurture your social connections. Find your people and don’t be afraid to ask for support.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is you are NOT ALONE in this. Life has been hard. We have been asked to manage more than ever with even less than before. You are not crazy for thinking whatever you have been thinking. Have you tried any of these suggestions? What has helped you manage all the things these last few years?