Kathi Kennedy is a registered licensed psychotherapist from Peyton. She owns Kennedy Counseling and is offering free 20-minute online counseling sessions during the coronavirus shutdown. ìI am very community oriented, and people are laid off and donít have an income,î Kennedy said. ìCounselors are expensive and this is not a time to spend money when you need help. People are hurting and thatís what Iím here for. People need help with coping skills and making sure theyíre finding accurate resources.îKennedy said people are facing many fears and anxieties such as loneliness, health and safety and economic displacement. People feel powerless when they canít call the shots, Kennedy said. ìNot having control over something is a major cause of stress and anxiety on a normal day, and these clearly are not normal days.îAcknowledging feelings is important, and journaling is a great way to express those feelings. Kennedy said write freely and openly, donít hold back. Include a list of at least three things for the ìI am gratefulî category.Set boundaries on news and media consumption, Kennedy said. Watch or read the news once a day to stay up-to-date on the current situation or ask others to watch and relay just the necessities. And make sure the information is accurate; take time to double check sources and facts.Self-care is important in high-stress times, Kennedy said. Eat nutritious food; this is a good time to learn more about nutrition. Try to exercise for 30 minutes a day, which releases endorphins (feel-good hormones) dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Those endorphins are critical in managing stress and depression. Create a vision board; this is also a good time to dream and create new goals ó plan for the future, she said.As social beings, social distancing does not necessarily equate to isolation. Kennedy said people can adjust and reframe connections with others. Consider hosting a virtual gathering, call old friends, relatives you miss, family or neighbors and catch up with them; make business calls to stay in touch with clients, she said.And be aware of warning signs of depression and suicide. Suicidal thoughts often come from a feeling of hopelessness and the inability to see solutions in a temporary situation. If you are thinking of suicide or suspect that someone is, act immediately and reach out for help.ìWe will emerge into society again, and we will regain our sense of safety; this situation will end,î Kennedy said. ìWe can learn great lessons from this and hopefully gain an attitude of gratitude for the simple things we have and do. In the meantime, reach out for help if needed. Remember, this is a temporary situation; it will pass, and we will be okay.îRev. Roger Butts teaches Centering Prayer at Black Forest Community Church and is a chaplain at Penrose Hospital. He said physical distancing is causing all kinds of heartache and stress. ìWe are a month in, and things are really hard,î Butts said. ìSomehow we know this will come to an end, but we are in the ëmeanwhileí right now.î He said making the most of a difficult time like this means focusing on the intimate and ultimate, the near at hand and the transcendent.Butts explained. The near at hand means to take advantage of the idea of proximity. If someone lives with a partner or spouse, get to know that person in a deeper way. Ask open-ended questions. If living with a child, spend time with them and find out what they are thinking and talking about. ìMy 13-year-old said to me the other day, ëWhat if the world ends? Dogs donít know anything and they wonít be ready.í She has serious things on her mind, and that is a conversation that must not be missed,î Butts said.Regarding the transcendent and the ultimate, he said, ìIíd be lost without my practice of Centering Prayer. My friend who is a Buddhist teacher at the Air Force Academy would be lost without his practice of meditation.î In this time especially, creating silence is important.Butts said the small voice within all of creation is waiting to be heard, but it canít be heard above the din of constant, ìToo Hot to Handleî or ìFriendsî reruns. Carve out some time for silence and meditation; pick a time every day and sit silently for five minutes, say the rosary or the Lordís Prayer or recite a favorite Psalm and see what emerges, he said. Find Kathi Kennedy at Kennedy Counseling: http://kennedycounsel.comPikes Peak Mental Health: 719-635-7000Suicide Prevention Partnership Pikes Peak Region Hotline: 719-596-5433
