Constant exhaustion, aches and pains, and brain fog. Difficulty getting motivated, feelings of numbness, or total overreactions that don't make sense even to you. Panic or feelings of sadness.
These things are not you "not having it together" or being lazy. This is our brain and body reacting to 12 months of chronic stress.
The one year anniversary of the loss of life as we knew it is hitting a lot of us hard. It's been so long since things have been "normal" that we may not even notice how hard this still is. But it still feels so hard because it still is really, really hard.
So do the things that you know help you feel better, when you can. But don't let something someone says or something you read make you feel like you're lacking in some way. It's ok to feel deep loss and grief. It's ok to feel a lot of things at once. It's ok if you don't have some neat and tidy lessons that you've learned from this past year. And it's also ok if you do.
We've all had a collective, yet totally individual, trauma experience this year. We're all going to process in different ways. Please have all the grace for yourself and for others as you do. And know that you're not alone.
And while you're at it, hang on to some hope. I do think better days are ahead.
