We’re all dealing with a lot of uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Speaking with CKDM, psychotherapist Julia Senchuk offers some practical advice on how you can cope with stress and support your loved ones during this challenging time.
She says it’s normal to feel stressed, but it can really help to shift your focus onto the positive.
“I would encourage people to take a step back and realize what we have control over, and what we don’t have control over. The main thing we have control over is ourselves; our thoughts, our feelings and our behaviour. Outside of that, we don’t have much control. So let’s put our time and energy into what we can control.”
According to Senchuk, sometimes the most helpful thing we can for our loved ones, is just listen.
“A lot of us just need other people to hear us and to normalize the situation and say ‘Yea, I’m feeling stressed too.’”
At the end of the day, Senchuk says focusing on what we can control can help take away a lot of the external stress, and allows us to focus on ourselves and our families.
“We just need to take it one step at a time. Recognize what we can control and move forward with a plan that works for you and your family. My plan may be different than your plan, and that’s okay.”
Julia Senchuk is a sessional instructor with Brandon University’s Department of Psychology. She also runs her own private counselling practice in Brandon.
