Taking care of your mental health in a society of change, uncertainty: U of S expert

In the world we live in today, there are a lot of unknowns.

From the upcoming provincial and civic elections to dealing with COVID-19 restrictions, an impending second wave and such a shift in normalcy, things can get overwhelming, according to the University of Saskatchewan’s Terri Peterson.

Peterson is the practice leader with the student wellness centre’s counselling program. Instead of sitting at her desk during Wednesday’s interview, she said she was sitting cross-legged on her bedroom floor.

She said she knows first-hand how worrying the unknown is in today’s society, but people do need to take a step back and acknowledge these facts and contextualize it.

“People haven’t experienced (this unknown before). For a lot of people, (that comes with) some activation, or anxiety around the novelty,” she explains.

“We don’t have a large sense of (what’s next). There is almost, (this) lack of roadmap or for some people, meaning- Tradition, rhythms, routines, that help us.”

Peterson said resources such as connections and relationships have been interrupted since March when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“I think people can deal with that for a certain period of time… (but) it has been a long time running now, and it could be still a long time,” she said.

“(People) are kind of going through a bit of exhaustion right now… a lot of people are still interacting a lot through screens, and remotely. But also, we’ve been dealing with, kind of change- change fatigue that comes with that. A lot of changes happening at once and a lot of (adaptation) and flexibility.”

In sustaining the unknowns for such a long time, along with the thought of the unknown on the other side, Peterson said it is hard on people’s mental health. Emotionally, mentally, socially, physically and spiritually, people may feel drained, but Peterson said keeping up the idea that things might get better, could help in the long-run.

“I feel like I have just gotten through a long winter, but I’m kind of going into another one,” she said.

“There is this feeling of both being kind of underwhelmed and overwhelmed at the same time.”

When it comes to the change associated with the upcoming elections, Peterson said change or the idea of it, there’s a lot to unpack.

“(Elections) can mean a change, maybe, in how things are structured or organized. Or it might mean there won’t be a change… it depends on people’s perspective,” she said.

Moving forward, Peterson said in the world we live in today, opportunities for growth are also there.

“We might all be in the same storm together, but we’re actually in different boats,” she said. “Take some time, and check-in and see what (you) need more of. Often, the rhythms and routines that people have fallen into weren’t thoughtfully chosen by the individual. Just kind of stepping back, and thinking.”

Peterson added that a simple question to yourself could help out your outlook on the world’s current situation.

“How can I sustain this in a way… that’ll (help) me maybe, develop and grow and feel alive? And for some people that might be turning to the arts, music, making space for those connections that are in their life, for some people, it might be slowing down, and for some people, it might be speeding up. It’s really that, kind of radical self-care.”