mental health days

As someone in healthcare and working in these trying times, I want to stress more than ever that we all need your prayers for strength, not only physical but mentally. The support we got when Covid-19 first started was unbelievable. But now that we are seeing a resurgence of it, we are not seeing that support. It feels like this time around, the physical and mental stress seems different and it's more this time around.  I am not going to preach about the vaccine or about wearing a mask. I just want to get out there that the nurses and pca's that I work with are working longer hours, with more critical patients and they are feeling it. 

I work with some great people that are doing what they can to provide the best care to our patients. But the stress of these trying times is starting to wear on them as well as me.

You see, as healthcare workers, we are the caregiver, counselor, hugger, hand holder, and sometimes family to our patients as well as our co-workers.  A lot of the nurses I work with have never experienced anything like this and it is so hard to process what is happening and how to comfort our patient and families and have it not affect us emotionally.

I am one of those type of people, as I am sure a lot of you are out there, that wants to appear to have it all together. But if you really think about it, none of us really do. We need each other to get through our days, even if it is a good one. And it isn't failing if you need to ask for help. I have seen so many co-workers shed tears because of their patients condition.  And it isn't because they are weak, but that they care so much and there is nothing we can do.  It is a feeling of helplessness that when you do all that is in your power and nothing changes. Your patient is still sick, or even worse, they die.

It is not shameful or a sign of weakness to seek help. I tell this to my co-workers and encourage them to seek the help of counselors or doctors. But to be honest, as one who likes to seem that I have it all together, I don't.  It's ok to not be ok. But to recognize when you need help is another story. I feel embarrassed, or weak when I admit I need help. But to take that step shows strength. 

I hope that if you are feeling the stress of this world, you will seek help. It doesn't have to be in healthcare. It can be the loss of something, a loved one, job or it could just be the stress of raising a family. There is so many things out there and not one tops the other.  And if you see someone that seems to have it all together, just think, they may not but is not sure who to go to get help. 

I have sought the help of others and it was a hard step to take, but a needed one.  Just take that step. The first one is always the hardest.

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Love to all,

overwhelmed

 Still feeling like you can't manage it? I have recently felt so overwhelmed that I didn't think I was going to be able to breathe.  So many things in life being thrown my way. My last post was talking about handling life and that was a month and half ago! I got through that and still having more things thrown at me. 

~Son away at school in Florida 

~Daughter trying to find a job, but the job market sucks and trying to encourage her in this hunt

~house renovation still going on and wishing it would be over!

~work: flipping to day and night shift because of staffing needs and trying to do my job with it

.....and I can go on and on. But I am not going to whine. God made me strong. And when I feel weak, I know where to turn. Sometimes the tears come, just to get some relief. I can remember when my daughter would cry, for no reason. I would ask her, why are you crying and she would say, "I don't know". I totally understand that now. But sometimes this release helps me get through these times. Some people scream, run, exercise, eat.....I cry.

I also make pickles! I love doing this. It is a lot to do and pretty much takes about half of my day off, but I enjoy it. It is something that I do good and I love to eat what I can make. 

When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, know God is still using you. 

" My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Love to all,