I endured years of panic disorder back when I was raising children. During that period I was basically forced to come up with coping mechanisms which, as it turns out, I am now able to resurrect and apply to the current COVID 19 crisis!
A key part of my regime at the time, when my symptoms were at their worst, was to break every day down into 15 min. increments. While waking up and staring at an endless tunnel full of 24 hour days was horribly overwhelming, I found I could at least muster the will to manage 15 minutes!
My state was so pitiful back in the day that simply surviving those 15 minutes was all I could handle. This was the basis of my daily life for 2 pregnancies. After each birth things eased up enough that I could expand that time frame, but the main idea of don't look ahead lasted a long time. I am applying that thinking today because I don't want to get lost in the "what-ifs." I want to stay within the confines of each day.
Another thing that helped me a lot with panic was taking walks. Getting out and walking somehow let me get ahead of my panic, which I used to call "the old man." Sometimes I felt like the old man was less than a block behind me, other times, when things got better, I could be as much as half a mile ahead of him!
I am not saying that I am in panic mode here but I am certainly aware that time management is going to be important for my peace and well being right now. Having the dogs is great all the time but they are going to be wonderful for me now more than ever! State Parks are still open in TX, making for much fun! Taking the dogs for walks is not only a great way for me to keep my focus off the current restrictions but also a wonderful way to increase my personal peace - and fitness!
Praying was a huge in my life when I was panic stricken. It was easy to pray then because, being as desperate as I was, God was very real in my life (He is always there of course!). I was so agitated when I had panic disorder that I couldn't sit still to read scripture or pray but I could walk and pray! With today’s limitations, I am determined to make prayer and reading scripture more of a priority during the coming months.
As for making art, as an abstract artist making art is a central part of my life. Being home even more now because of my broken ankle, I find my creative energies totally supercharged! I have so many projects going on right now that I have started keeping a daily log so I can keep track of things!
With God we shall do valiantly. Psalm 60:12a
