Page 7 - 2020 Summer CMTA Report

COPING WITH C VID-19

self, the observer of the thoughts,
from the actual fearful thoughts.
How do I deal with the mental stress A great way to interrupt the obses-
of the current pandemic AND my CMT at the sive stream of worry thoughts is to
same time? simply take a deep breath and lis-
ten to yourself breathe. It’s
impossible to listen to your breath
and your thinking at the same
CMTA Advisory Board Member in my body signaled “My life is time.
David Tannenbaum replies: over” and left me gripped by The gradual recognition and
panic? Too many! Getting a han- observation of your negative
This is a strange time for the dle on fear and truly thinking is an ongoing practice.
world in many ways, but those of understanding the nature of fear You won’t be able to catch your-
us with CMT have had to deal can be the beginning of a life with self every time but it gets easier.
with strangeness and adversity all much less worry. I will share with Just pay attention and observe
of our lives. “We grow through you what I have learned. your thinking. Take this time of David Tannenbaum
adversity,” a wise man once said. I I have learned that fear is usu- COVID-19 to work on your- answers questions from
was young when I first heard that ally based on some narrative that selves and appreciate the joy in readers in his column
and I needed to get a lot older to we create in our mind. It is often a simple things. Being home a lot “What’s On Your Mind?
Ask David” regularly in
truly understand what it meant. I story about the future or the past. reminds us to feel grateful that The CMTA Report.
strongly believe that adversity Fear cannot survive in the present we actually have a home in David has an LCSW
pushes us to go deeper within our- moment. Our mind is constantly which to shelter. Having our degree and has been a
selves and gives us an opportunity creating scenarios. All the thoughts ability to go to concerts or eat psychotherapist in New
York City for the past 30
to develop the coping skills we that go through your mind are not out taken away is frustrating, but years, specializing in help-
need to be our best. The uncer- who you really are. They are the being able to cook at home and ing others with the task of
tainty and fear of the COVID-19 product of your conditioning over enjoy our food is golden. How growing emotionally and
crisis is not all that different from a lifetime. Your suffering is usually much more are we able to appre- spiritually through physical
challenges. “My CMT has
the uncertainty and fear we face in a product of your fearful thoughts ciate our friends and family when been my greatest challenge
living with CMT. In some ways, and not the situation. we are unable to see and my best teacher in
having CMT has prepared us for Simply recognizing them. A neighbor life,” says David.
COVID-19. Those of us who and observing this offered to shop for
have already adjusted our lives to stream of thinking— In some me. I was so touched
moving around less than others without judging or ways, having by that gesture.
may have experienced less of a holding on to these Accepting help with
dramatic change than others. thoughts—is a way CMT has gratitude is some-
COVID-19, like our CMT, is to release them and prepared thing I have had to
forcing us to slow down and sepa- bring you back to the learn. Experiencing
rate the essential from the present moment and us for solitude is very differ-
non-essential. We are thinking the peace that is COVID-19. ent than loneliness.
about what is truly important in underneath all these With the Internet we
our lives. habitual behaviors. can stay connected,
Uncertainty and fear are feel- You can have these but in our solitude
ings that I have ardently explored thoughts without identifying with we have an opportunity to get to
all my life in an attempt to avoid any one thought. Worry arises know ourselves without all the
being paralyzed by them. Even from thinking about the future distractions that we usually have.
more than my physical limitations, that you can’t control. In the pre- And just maybe when we let go
my fears of the future were the sent moment you can take an of all the self judgment and com-
cause of much stress and anxiety. action or realize there is nothing parisons, we will actually like
How many times has some change you can do. Try to separate your- what we find! h

SUMMER 2020 THE CMTA REPORT 7