0003 - The Weight - Pat Ward - Mental Health and COVID-19

Coronavirus has cast the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless. The normal structures and rhythms of life are in upheaval. We know some of the things we’ve lost. We are bracing for others. It is taking a toll. How do we protect our mental health? Chris and Eddie bring in one of their good friends, Pat Ward. After a decade of leading a church in Oxford, Mississippi, Pat made a switch to clinical mental health counseling. Pat says, “I sit in a room with some of the most inspiring people I know. They stand up and face the thing that knocked them down every day. And they do it again and again. I get to be the first one who sees who they really are.” They talk about social distancing, anxiety, isolation, unstructured time, depression, loss, identity, and grief. Pat offers some very practical, constructive strategies for individuals, leaders, parents, and families to navigate a global pandemic in a way that encourages holistic physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.  Here is Pat’s website: https://www.patwardcounseling.com/Overcoming Coronanxiety | Pat Ward Counseling | Oxford, Tupelo, OnlineThese are strange days indeed. Check out these helpful tips for combatting the Coronavirus anxiety associated with COVID-19.Here are a few helpful guidelines that Pat offers for staying emotionally and mentally healthy during the changes associated with the Coronavirus outbreak: https://www.patwardcounseling.com/2020/03/14/overcoming-coronanxiety/?fbclid=IwAR2QqEl8Iamis1wE-7VsmrKERGlVW-aPsDAaSQFQFPDVU072MhWAknIMhZ8Here’s an article about how to talk to kids about coronavirus:https://parenting.nytimes.com/childrens-health/coronavirus-kids-talk