Suffering through the summer of Omicron? Here are some tips for riding the wave.

I am noticing a different kind of stress right now. While lockdown stress was constant and languishing, there is something more chaotic, messy and unsettled about this period. There is a sense of hyper-vigilance, as we constantly assess risk and feel pressure to make decisions that will not only affect our lives, but those of our families, friends and community.

Plus an understandable frustration that we do not deserve this suffering, after all we have sacrificed over the last two years.

At challenging times like this, I return to the work of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, who quite literally wrote the book on making meaning out of suffering.

So here’s a few ideas from Viktor that are helping me and might help you too.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

There is so much beyond our control right now, that it can feel like the only answer is to just keep doing what you are doing and push through. However, this may mean you miss the opportunity to make changes that will improve your mental health.

These changes will come from tuning out of the expectations of how you should be living and working and refocusing to actions guided by your values and needs. 

“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour.”

You may be feeling that your anxiety, lack of energy, and need for rest is something abnormal that you need to fix, so you can get back to living and working at a normal capacity. But ignoring your emotions will not lead to life back to normal; it will lead to burnout.

Your actions shouldn't be normal right now, they should be just as abnormal as the time we find ourselves in. Ask yourself, what does an abnormal amount of rest and self-care look like for you? Maybe that’s what you need.

“The last of one’s freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance.”

It is normal right now to be frustrated in the face of so much uncertainty. But with so much out of your control, it is important to know you can choose your attitude toward these challenges. Consider an attitude of acceptance and curiosity toward a difficult situation, or compassion toward yourself.

This won't make the challenges go away, but it will change your experience of them.

“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”

It can be tempting to write off 2022 already and to feel like you can't do anything, let alone something meaningful.

However, meaning can be found in even the most frustrating actions. For example, when you experience frustration and FOMO when isolating or staying home, try to focus on how meaningful this action is. You are protecting the health of your loved ones and the community. This doesn’t make the pain of the sacrifice go away, but it does give it meaning and perhaps make it easier to carry.

 Viktor writes that between our circumstances and response there is a space:

"In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

Our lives and who we are, is always defined by how we choose to respond.

This morning, I felt stressed and frustrated. But then I chose my response. I chose to see those emotions as normal. I chose to write this post.

I hope you find something to give your day purpose too (even if it was just reading this).

And if you like these ideas and quotes from Viktor Frankl, I’d suggest heading down to your local bookshop and grabbing a copy of his book Man’s Search for Meaning. It’s phenomenal.

You are not alone. Reach out for support often and early.

Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Health Support.

1800 512 348.

Lifeline. Crisis Support.

13 11 14.

Rainbow Door. LGBTIQA+ Support.

1800 729 367.

Support Act. Arts worker support.

1800 959 500.