I know we were all so excited and relieved to have witnessed a safe and peaceful transfer of power last Wednesday, but is anyone feeling emotional fatigue? Over the last month and indeed over the last year – not to mention the last 4 years – my emotions have been all over the place. Sadness at all the lives lost, some very close to home; sadness at not being able to see friends; anxiety as we approached the election; excitement as many of us made get-out-the-vote calls; and certainly relief once the results were known. More recently I felt incredulous, frightened and angry as we watched the events of Jan. 6. And again, sadness at the senseless loss of life. And then there was the pride that Unitarian Universalists and UU the VOTE were a part of turning out votes for the Georgia runoff election. All of this against the backdrop of a pandemic that has kept us apart for nearly a year. And all on top of 4 years of an alternate reality filled with lies and fear-mongering that created tension in our families, communities and our country.
It will take some time to sort it all out and for us to decompress and process all of these events. The emotional exhaustion, grief and post-traumatic stress are real. Some of us have weathered this time better than others. Some of us have less fuel in our tanks. The result is different for each of us. And we all probably have many visual triggers and losses that will stir up the grief or anger. The inauguration was a glorious parting of the clouds for me and I will listen to Lady Gaga singing the national anthem and Amanda Gorman reciting “The Hill We Climb” again and again. I’m so grateful for that healing experience.
We are a resilient bunch, but give yourselves time to acknowledge and feel what you’ve been through. And even though there’s joy and relief in this turning point, the exhaustion is likely there and the stress and trauma stay with us for a while. Be gentle with yourselves. Practice self-compassion. Healing takes time.
Here are some tips for healing taken from the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing:
- Breathe – Take a slow deep breath in for 4 seconds and exhale slowly for 6 seconds.
- Move – Dance, stretch, walk, shake.
- Hydrate – Slowly drink cold water: trace the feeling of the water going down as you drink.
- Connect – Call, text, video chat, visit (safely) with someone you trust and care about.
- Affirm – Repeat a calming statement or prayer. For example, “I am bigger than my worry.”
- Unplug – Take a technology break. Disconnect from constant access to news.
On Fri., Feb. 12, at 7 p.m., Rev. Christin Green and UUCF’s Pastoral Care Team will lead the annual Healing Service. This will be a time to be together virtually, share our thoughts and share in our healing.
Resources for dealing with grief and other mental health and substance abuse issues can be found at uucf.org/grief. Rev. David A. Miller and Rev. Christin Green can be reached by calling the main UUCF number at 703-281-4230. The Pastoral Care Team is available to you by reaching out to co-chairs, Linda Clark or Ann King.
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