REFLECT on the past year to move forward

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Start with some reflection.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and throughout the month, we are focusing on how the pandemic has affected our lives over the past year, especially on an emotional and mental level. We are exploring techniques for healing and letting go, as well as tips for moving forward.

A series of four articles will dive into what we categorized as the “Four Rs” of mental health: Reflect, Release, Restore and Rise. In this article, we are focusing on “Reflect,” and are specifically taking a look at what the last year has meant in our lives.

For some, the pandemic has meant slowing down, staying home and focusing on self and family. For others, it has meant chaos and stress around the unknown and a sense of fear about what might happen next. Whether the last year has brought positive change or increased hardship (likely it’s been a mix of both, on a daily basis), all experiences and feelings are perfectly normal.

As we’ve experienced, our daily lives can shift overnight. The amount of change brought on by COVID-19 is extremely taxing on our mental and emotional wellbeing. And, when we experience stress for long periods of time, it can impact our physical health as well.

In order to process the events of the past year, it’s important to reflect on and identify your feelings: What am I feeling? Why am I feeling this way? And what do I need?

As you go through these questions, remember that everything you’re feeling is natural, and you’re not alone. Often, it can be difficult to even acknowledge how you’re feeling, let alone ask for help. In this time of uncertainty, there might not be clear answers, but there are resources and support available.

As more people are vaccinated and daily activities feel more stable, there is likely hope and optimism around life returning to “normal,” but that can also feel scary. You might be asking yourself, “How do I interact in public?” “Is it okay to shake someone’s hand or give them a hug?” “What if I don’t want to be around people?” Know that hesitation and uncertainty is to be expected, and that it’s okay to take your time getting back to “normal.”

Though a return to pre-pandemic ways of life may be impossible, it is possible to take the lessons of the last year and carry the good ones forward. And while reflection is certainly a helpful and necessary tool for healing, it might be even more important to focus on the present, and moving forward, one day at a time.

Daily habits for effective reflection:

• Write your (past and present) feelings in a journal
• Focus on how you want to feel
• In difficult moments, list three things you are grateful for
• Talk about your feelings with someone you trust, or a licensed professional
• Create healthy habits that help you feel in control
• Do something that brings you joy

Visit our mental health guide for more coping methods.

If you need someone to talk to about stress due to COVID-19, call Washington Listens at 1–833–681–0211 for support. You can also contact your healthcare provider.

More information

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Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 12 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.

WA Notify can alert you if you’ve been near another user who tested positive for COVID-19. Add WA Notify to your phone today: WANotify.org

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays.

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