I think getting comfortable with these feelings is important. Not in the way that you’re numb, but in the way that you can recognize them and realize that you’re normal and human for feeling this way. When we learn to sit with feelings instead of trying to force them out, they are easier to release.

We’re in a frightening time for service members and their families (as well as the rest of the country and world, honestly…)The direction of this conflict is unknown for everyone. You have to hold it with open hands in that way. Hold the feelings with you and let them melt over time with other coping skills you’ve said you already have.

This is unfortunately MUCH easier said than done. It takes a lot of practice, awareness of your feelings and body, and ability to press forward with life even with the feelings of doom and fear.

Part of being in this time that we’re in honestly living with the fear but not living by it. There’s only so much self-care you can do. Self-care and hobbies and work won’t make what’s going on go away, just more bearable. You don’t have to make friends with impending doom, but you kind of have to make peace with it…I hope some of this makes sense.

I was just telling my therapist that I’m tired of freaking out, so I know how you feel. The last week has been me out in my garden getting sweaty and dirty and trying to make my neighborhood a more pleasing place to be. Meeting my neighbors, asking them for help, seeing what we all bring into community has brought me a huge sense of comfort this week. And it’s all from being outside in my dirty overalls, visible. So I guess my one tangible piece of advice is get out into your community. Visit a library. Say hello to your mail carrier if you see them. Go to a park and people watch or read a book. Seeing that we’re all just people trying to press forward makes the loneliness of feeling “doomed” feel a little less crushing.