On a daily basis, we are bombarded with images and sounds of all kinds. Through various forms of media - be it podcasts, videos or articles - we are constantly being overloaded with information about ourselves, other people, and the world around us. Doomscrolling and information overload have become the “new normal” in our world today, but what are the impacts that it can have on our spiritual, mental, emotional, and even physical health? And what kind of boundaries and coping skills can we apply to our online engagement to help us stay safe, sane, and grounded in Christ?
Adjusting to Life Transitions
The Window of Tolerance
God is Here
“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” I could tell you that I love this verse, but I would be lying. Mostly, I find this verse confusing – how in the world do I “not be anxious about anything?” And yet, believe or not, managing anxiety can begin with some relatively simple steps.
Survival Skills
Mental health providers are, in many ways, serving as “front line workers” amidst our current crises. As human beings, they are faced with all the same stressors and hardships as most people during this time, while, as therapists, they are also called to carry the overwhelming burdens of a wide range of people afflicted in a wide range of ways by these very same circumstances and to do that with absolute steadiness and compassion. To complicate things further, the boundaries between personal and professional life have been blurred as most services are provided via telehealth typically from a private space in one’s own home and with greater fluidity of schedule. This results in an often jarring shift back and forth between personal stressors and concerns and those of the clients with very little buffer in between.
Our team at Harbor has been unwavering throughout this challenging season – unwavering in their empathy, wisdom, patience, resilience, prayerfulness, and care. They have also worked hard to ensure that they are being sustained in body, mind, and spirit while carrying the unique burdens of serving on the “front lines” of mental health during this time. So to celebrate them, we wanted to highlight their voices and let them share their insights on how they have been managing to “survive” under the many pressures of the season.





