If you are like most of us, your cortisol level has been abnormally elevated for several months. Only to peak on November 3rd, it has prepared you for emotional and physical challenges, the roller coaster rides, and the dips. We realize that we are living through an extraordinary period of time. First, the 2020 man-made election and, secondly, close to a year-long, virus-made pandemic. Years from now, there will be movies and books written about both. It will explain how some survived these days and others did not.
Cortisol has helped us move through this challenging time and is an essential stress hormone for our health and survival. But, like many things, too much of a good thing is not a good thing. As we live through this incredible point in history, you may find yourself suffering from its effect. You may have already experienced an occasional increase in heart rate and a surge of adrenaline which are normal reactions to feeling like one is in danger like when watching the news on TV! Sleep interruption, fatigue, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, weight gain, anxiety, and depression are all products of prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol levels. Muscles and bones can feel weak and, over time, this can put stress on our hearts and on our mental health. This is the reason why you never saw June or Ward Cleaver ever discussing an election, except maybe one at Beaver’s grade school.
The election is over (well kind of) and surviving the pandemic is exhausting which is why we need recovery time to manage our stress and begin to adapt to the norm of the day. Although we bet a lot of us can identify with one or more of these symptoms, it is not all bad news! The good and the bad of this is that the election has been won but COVID-19 is here to stay for quite a while.
Regarding COVID-19, one suggestion may be to, if you haven’t already, treat yourself to a really good comfortable, 4-ply cotton mask with a slot for a filter. Make it festive or fun and one that you might even enjoy wearing. Looks like we are going to be wearing these for some time to come.
We face an atypical winter holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving. As we head into the holidays, it may be time to explore new ways to connect with family and friends in this Covid-run world. Most of us will find that our dinner tables will not be as full this year and we might actually miss clearing and cleaning all those dishes, pots, and pans! We will likely hanker for new ways to connect, laugh, and feel close to one another. We picture our friends up north sitting by an outside fire pit with hot chocolate, rum cider, L.L. Bean jackets and wool scarves – 6 feet distancing. Pink cheeks are happy cheeks! In the warmer climates, we have it made with outdoor seating and distancing. We can all make it work as different as it may seem. Planning something to look forward to can also soothe a lonely soul as our human nature craves connection and adventure. We have already begun our plans for next summer to safely visit those we missed seeing this year.
We want to join our family, friends, and readers in beginning to heal our bodies and souls. It is time to focus on this and restore our health. The caffeine and sugar got us through the tough times but will not serve us well in the long term! We write these words to remind ourselves as well because we have not escaped the wrath of high cortisol levels either. We are truly looking forward to many good night’s sleep.
Be safe and be well. Remember to celebrate today’s World Kindness Day!
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary”
– James Madison 1788
