Dealing with Uncertainty around the Holidays.

Around the holiday season and over the past couple of years in general, dealing with the stress of uncertainty isn’t anything new to us. It is however, something we should talk about especially this season. 

If you are a parent with young children you’ll know that we have been dealing with the uncertain availability of children’s cold and flu remedies and prescription medications. Even if you don’t have kids you may have been impacted by drug shortages at some point over the last couple of years. Our pharmacy team has been assisting with these drug shortages by compounding medications and finding solutions for our patients. We can sympathize with the stress this has had on our patients and our community. We understand how frustrating it can be to not have access to what you need, when you need it. We are always here to help.

Uncertainty such as this can be extremely stressful in many ways. This stress can lead us to be hard on ourselves, focus on negative things in our lives (and the world) and things we cannot control. If you notice these in your life, here are some things you can try:

1. Shift your focus from what is outside of your control to things you can control. There are a number of items in our lives we can’t control such as the actions of other people, illness, etc. Shifting focus onto even little things you have control of and can take action on can make a big difference. These can be small things like cleaning our bedroom, making a healthy meal or planning some physical activity that we enjoy.

2. Seek support from your community. Re-connect with people in your community that care about you. Think about friends or family members you have not seen in the last couple of years. They might help provide access to support and positivity you might be struggling to find yourself. Surround yourself with good people, family, and friends and you never know what doors may open for you. 

3. Focus on gratitude. We have so much to be grateful for and focusing on these positive things can make a real difference. One strategy can be to think about or write down three things you are grateful for in your life. These can be small things or big things. Doing this in the morning to start your day can really change your focus for the day.

If you need support, there are many options available in the city. These can be from your doctor’s office, phone services (such as the Distress Center) and online counselling services.