I saw a tweet the other day that went something like this:
My therapist: Your OCD is irrational
The Government: Wash your hands 19 times or else your dad will die
I couldn’t help but laugh at the grim reality of this tweet. I’ve had OCD my whole life, but was only formally diagnosed in the past couple years. I think it took so long because there’s a general misunderstanding of what OCD actually is. Although I relate to the above-mentioned tweet, I don’t have hand-washing compulsions. I also don’t compulsively straighten picture frames or clean (although sometimes I wish, since I have to deal with OCD anyway, I could at least get a clean room out of it).
OCD is actually a cycle of obsessive thoughts, anxiety, compulsions, and temporary relief. I’ll have an upsetting thought that I just can’t let go of, which results in almost unbearable anxiety. To relieve it, I’ll do something that my brain has decided makes me feel better – that could be turning my lamp off and on ten times, checking that the oven is off over and over before I go to sleep, or tapping my foot in a specific way on a crack in the sidewalk. I’ll feel better then, but just for a little while. Usually, giving in to the compulsions just makes the cycle more vicious, and soon enough, the compulsive behaviors are more upsetting than the obsessive thoughts.
All this to say, coronavirus has made OCD much more difficult to manage. It’s a time of extreme uncertainty, I have absolutely no control over it, and I’m stuck inside all day without many outlets for my energy. Everyone with OCD is different, but for me, it’s really the perfect storm.
That means prioritizing my mental health has been more important than ever. But that’s not true just for me. We are in stressful, unprecedented times, and many of our coping mechanisms, such as spending time with friends and family or going to the gym, aren’t available to us in the same way. It’s more important than ever for folks to learn about their own mental health, and figure out the best ways to take care of it.
For me, taking care of my mental health in quarantine has looked like this:
Therapy. I’m lucky enough to have a therapist that specializes in OCD and is also there to talk about pretty much anything I want. It took me a really long time to go to therapy – I procrastinated for about two years. But it’s one of the best moves I’ve made for my mental health. I’m lucky enough to have health insurance that covers my visits, a workplace that lets me adjust my hours so I can make my appointments, and a therapist who has transitioned to tele-appointments during coronavirus. Not everyone has the same access to therapy, but it’s worth doing the research – you may be surprised at the affordable options out there! If you’ve been on the fence about therapy, take this as your sign. DO IT!
Being kind to myself. This one takes constant work, but is more important than ever during coronavirus. I tend to get down on myself for not doing enough or being enough, whether that’s because I ate chips and salsa for dinner three nights in a row, or because with all this free time, I’m still opting for netflix over the books on my bedside table. Once I became aware of this thinking pattern, it became easier to recognize the moments where I am unnecessarily hard on myself. And in those moments, I gently remind myself that we are in a global pandemic, and that I am doing enough. Another trick that’s been particularly helpful has been writing down all the things I get done at the end of the day – that way, I can remember all that I’m doing, and not fixate exclusively on the unchecked items on my to-do list.
Exercise. Whatever that means for you! I’ve never been a big walker, but suddenly I have a lot of free time – and I’ve discovered I actually love going on walks. However, not everyone lives in an area where it’s super safe to be outside right now. So listen to your body, and do whatever feels good to you. But, truly, getting a little bit of exercise every day has been critical for me and my mental health. (The photo at the top is one of the many photos I’ve taken on my daily walk. This is one of my favorite views near my mom’s house.)
I know I said I would never show anyone my embroidery, but I guess I’ll make an exception. It’s a small, simple design, but the process is so therapeutic!Creative outlets. I will never let anyone see my watercoloring or embroidery, and absolutely NO ONE will ever be hearing me play the guitar, which I started learning a couple months ago. But that’s because these creative outlets aren’t for other people, they’re for me. Coronavirus means a lot of staring at screens and redundancy in everyday life. Spending time being creative feels like a breath of fresh air for my brain, and I’ve found it really helps reduce my anxiety.
Doing what’s in my control – like fighting climate change. I think mental health can be so tricky to manage right now because it truly feels like nothing is in our control. When things first started to pick up in the US, I was one of those people who was frantically googling coronavirus numbers at three in the morning, and checking every single news alert that came onto my phone. But this just left me feeling anxious and hopeless. I’m so grateful that I’m not in that place anymore. Instead, I’ve directed my energy into what is in my control – Which is where climate action comes in.
Climate Action: Necessary for the planet, equally necessary for my mental health.
I always knew that climate action was important to me for the obvious reasons. Our lives and the lives of future generations are at stake, and the most vulnerable communities will be hit hardest by our changing climate. Taking action on climate isn’t just an environmental necessity, it is a human rights necessity. However, during the coronavirus, taking action on climate has been equally necessary to maintaining my mental health. Because, even though climate change is a complex, global issue, I still have control over my impact. I feel better knowing that I am taking action, and that my small impact is still a real impact.
Of course, climate action looks a little different during a stay-at-home order. Strategy meetings are now on zoom, protests are on twitter, and educational events are on Facebook Live. And although I am eagerly awaiting the day we can all operate in-person again, I’m also feeling better and better about virtual activism. There is a huge, passionate community of people that are doing everything possible to avoid future catastrophe – and a stay-at-home order hasn’t stopped them. Folks are posting more about climate on social media, contacting their legislators over the phone or email, and are attending educational webinars hosted by organizations across the country. I am confident that this momentary pause in physical activism is only fueling the passion and drive that climate activists have always possessed. When this is all over, we’re going to fight harder than ever.
There are a lot of organizations doing a ton of great work right now, but here are a couple things that CCAN has lined up to help you get involved in climate action during coronavirus.
Learning about the next big clean energy campaign in Virginia. We’re not just going to build a movement for the sake of building a movement. We’re going to put our new skills and communities into action! The next big clean energy fight in Virginia will be on transportation. Learn about what opportunities we have, like fare-free public transit, and how you can help us win! Click HERE to RSVP for the transportation info sesh with experts on May 26 at 7:00pm.
I hope that, sometime soon, you can take a moment to really consider your mental health. Sometimes, it can feel easier to ignore the question of how you’re doing than to really take a moment and check in with yourself. But, at least for me, prioritizing my mental health has been critical to staying afloat during coronavirus. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it.
An example of virtual activism! I participate in weekly virtual climate strikes. Email me at hannah@chesapeakeclimate.org to join me!
Baltimore’s Creative Minds Go to Work for the People’s Climate March
The Peoples Climate March is almost here — and Baltimore is ready! Over the past few months, CCAN and other organizations in Baltimore have been gearing up to make the most out of the upcoming mobilization in Washington D.C. by forming the Baltimore Peoples Climate Movement. We want to make sure we bring Baltimore’s message to the march, and come back home with renewed hope and inspiration to make our city a cleaner, greener, more equitable place to live. Mark our words, the resistance will be beautiful! We have hosted a series of art builds and created an art guidebased on conversations with community members and local organizations. Over the past few weeks, local artists, community members, and activists have brought the ideas and drawings in the guide to life! Scroll down to see what’s in store for art at the Peoples Climate March. And if you’re a Baltimorean, please join up with the Baltimore contingent at the march! We’ll be meeting at 4th St NW and Madison Drive this Saturday, April 29th at 11 a.m.Join us! Drawing of the Baltimore contingent by Valeska Populoh, an artist and cultural organizer in Baltimore and co-leader of the Baltimore Peoples Climate Movement art cluster. Our themes, which came out of conversations with community members and local organizations, focus on ‘People Power’ (investing in youth, leadership development, and social justice), ‘Energy, Environment and the Economy’ (a just transition, jobs with dignity, clean energy jobs, zero waste solutions, and renewable energy) and ‘Fair Development’ (community-driven development, community land trusts, permanently affordable housing, and transit equity). High school students from Baltimore Beyond Plastic making a banner for their group, which is working to get the city to ban styrene and plastics. Valeska Populoh, Baltimore Peoples Climate Movement art cluster co-leader, lending a hand to Billy as he makes a crab sign. Finn looks on as his mom paints a cloud sign that reads “Build Schools Not Jails,” as he works on a sun sign that reads, “Don’t Keep Out My Light.” Wyl Tucker, a steady contributor to our art builds, working on a row house sign that reads, “Failed Development Harms Our Communities.” A group of local organizers and artists painting signs at a satellite art build we hosted at Maryland Environmental Health Network’s event “Fired Up and Ready to Go!” at the 2640 space. As more people joined the Baltimore Peoples Climate Movement, we learned about ongoing campaigns and movements across the city. This knowledge motivated us to make signs that speak specifically to these issue areas so that the signs and banners can have a useful life after the march. Samuel Jordan from the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition joined a table meeting and educated us about the movement to build the red line in Baltimore, leading to the creation of this banner. The Peoples Climate March is an opportunity to spotlight local issues and existing campaigns on a national stage. This sign draws attention to Baltimore’s extremely high air pollution death rate. Taylor Smith-Hams, CCAN’s Baltimore organizer and art cluster co-leader, painting a banner for the Baltimore contingent, which reads, “Baltimore United for A Just, Clean Energy & Economic Future.” Photo by Valeska Populoh. Rebecca Mark, an organizer with Maryland Working Families and member of the Baltimore Peoples Climate Movement, painting a cloud that reads, “Close Prisons, Open Schools.” We held our last pre-march table meeting at Black Cherry Puppet Theater this week. Members of the Baltimore Peoples Climate Movement posed for a group photo and practiced chants that Nabeehah Aziz with Communities United wrote. One chant goes, “Climate change is so outrageous! Less than $15 is poverty wages!” These art builds would not have been possible without the generosity of Black Cherry Puppet Theater. Thank you for allowing us to use your wonderful space.
