there is little control over what’s next. That level
of uncertainty is unnerving, Wright says, and
further depletes already limited energy levels.
Self-care, of course, is only one dimension of
coping during stressful times. Surveys have
shown a sharp increase in anxiety disorders.
Many therapists are reporting upticks in referrals
and increases in caseloads. Virtual mental health
services are booming — another form of self-
care, in a more medical sense.
“Having a toolbox of coping skills is really
critical,” Wright says. She highlights other
types of self-care like meditation, journaling
and organizing — each of which has its own
culture and committed practitioners. “We have a
tendency to isolate emotionally,” Wright says. “It
is really important that people don’t do that.”
Ultimately, “self-care” contains as many definitions
as there are people who take care of themselves
— a Google search of the term will show you
that. The World Health Organization takes an
expansive view, describing it as a “broad concept”
that includes hygiene, lifestyle, social habits,
income levels and cultural beliefs — and, in the
best cases, can “strengthen national institutions”
to encourage a society’s overall health.
As the world navigates a web of unknowns
that sometimes feels like the Upside Down in
“Stranger Things,” there is one thing that people
can do something about: themselves. For all the
horror the pandemic has brought, it has also
revealed things that matter. And from the way
people have reacted through this year, it seems
clear that, in all the forms it takes, self-care
matters — particularly right now, particularly
with so many unknowns still ahead.Image: Charles Rex Arbogast