When my partner received a terminal diagnosis, I found myself exceptionally skilled at compartmentalizing my emotions. I could easily set aside worries about their health to focus on daily responsibilities, like managing our children’s school schedules. In caretaker mode, I was adept at blocking out the stress of a malfunctioning dishwasher or the overwhelming pile of mail that cluttered our kitchen table.
However, during the prolonged period of quarantine, my ability to compartmentalize was put to the ultimate test. Instead of pushing aside the heavy anxiety that accompanied these uncertain times, I became easily distracted by the latest news updates. My mind often wandered to my phone, drawn by the urge to check for updates about the pandemic.
In a recent Q&A session on LinkedIn, Zoe Mitchell, co-founder of a leading wellness platform, shared a helpful suggestion for those grappling with anxiety during such strange times: “Allow yourself an hour each day to fully embrace your worries and fears. Use that time to obsess over the news if you must—just give yourself permission to feel.”
This advice can be summarized as follows: Set aside an hour each day for your emotional release, then shift your focus to the tasks that require your attention. It’s crucial to express your feelings rather than suppress them, as bottling up emotions can lead to physical and mental health issues. Conditions like heart disease, insomnia, and autoimmune disorders can stem from the stress of unexpressed feelings. The daily emotional release strategy provides a structured way to confront these feelings without letting them dominate your life.
Intrigued by this approach, I decided to try it out. My mornings, which used to be a time for quiet reflection and writing, had turned into a chaotic mix of half-hearted work and compulsive social media scrolling. On my first attempt at this new method, I brewed my coffee, climbed back into bed, and let myself consume news without attempting to be productive.
To my surprise, I couldn’t maintain my focus for a full hour. My mind quickly shifted to lighter topics and social media distractions. I had to consciously redirect my thoughts back to my worries, eventually compiling a list of everything that was causing me stress.
Throughout that day, I realized that my phone usage decreased significantly when I wasn’t constantly reacting to news alerts, which allowed me more mental space to meet my work deadlines and assist my children with their studies. The list I created helped me organize my day more effectively, enabling me to tackle specific tasks rather than pacing around in a state of vague anxiety.
However, one potential downside to the daily emotional release strategy is the challenge of stopping once you’ve started. Dr. Alex Foster, a clinical psychologist, warned that while expressing emotions can provide relief, it’s essential to avoid getting trapped in a cycle of anxiety. The reality is that we are all dealing with some form of pandemic-related anxiety, and each person must find their own coping mechanism.
For some, the daily emotional release technique is beneficial; for others, it may lead to a spiral of worry. Some might prefer to express their feelings sporadically throughout the day or even hold them in until the crisis subsides. Whatever the approach, the key is to acknowledge and process those feelings at some point while continuing to navigate daily life.
In summary, the ‘daily emotional release’ strategy offers a structured way to confront anxiety during these challenging times, allowing for emotional expression while maintaining focus on daily responsibilities. To explore more on this topic, check out this article to keep you engaged. Additionally, for more insights into fertility, visit Make A Mom and for comprehensive resources on pregnancy and home insemination, check out Johns Hopkins Medicine.
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