During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I became acutely aware how the middle-aged clients in my therapy practice were struggling with the “ask” that the world was making of them: parent your children, care for your aging parents, hold down your job, and take care of your physical health all in the context of massive uncertainty and a shapeshifting virus.
We developed a nuanced and deep appreciation for the role that our physical health has in “rooting” us to our responsibilities: without it, we were exhausted, symptomatic, and exhibiting signs of mental health distress. Many turned to television, food, alcohol, and other substances to help manage the overwhelm they felt, only to realize later that the short-term comfort created unintended consequences longer term. Many stopped the exercise habits that helped them feel home in their bodies, disrupted their sleep routines, and increased the amount of time spent worrying for older loved ones.