Covid-19 caught nearly all of us by surprise, leaving us ripped of our routines, schedules and normal circumstances — everything we typically rely on for stability and consistency. If we weren’t already prone to or struggling with depression, COVID-19 certainly stirred up prime circumstances for depression to show up (many of us without any prior experience with mental illness or the coping skills to deal with it in healthy ways).
Worry: The Joy-Stealer
Not all worries are created equal. For instance: “Will I be able to feed my family for the week” or “Will I lose my job now that they’ve cut costs significantly?” These worries, while not helpful, are warranted; they also keep us on our toes so we become vigilant against our fears (by resourcing ourselves against perceived threat).
Expansion
Last August, I accepted a contract design position with a reputable company. But deep down I knew it was the wrong decision. I had quickly said yes before I stepped back in order to evaluate why I was taking the job. I had already lined up an interview with a teaching placement agency after completing redoing my resume to reflect my new career direction: teaching.