During a pandemic, the rumble of normal-life stress crescendos to a roar. That creates a dilemma for people in need who fear burdening others with requests for assistance. What’s a Healthy Survivor to do?
Healthy Survivors know that asking for and accepting support are signs of strength. Assistance helps them when solitary efforts to obtain sound knowledge, find healing hope, and/or take effective action would unnecessarily cause harmful stress.
Early in my pursuit of Healthy Survivorship, I needed a lot of help caring for three young children (two still in diapers), putting meals on the table, and managing my fears, anxieties, and sadness. The approach I used to obtain support may help people in need during a pandemic:
Increase your reach. For your list of willing-and-able friends and loved ones, the more names the better.
Make a pact. Ask each person to promise they won’t hesitate to decline a request—without apology or explanation—or ask to be removed from your list.
Stagger and spread out your requests. Avoid leaning on the same few individuals if you can spread out the assistance.
Find other avenues of support. Beyond friends and loved ones, find support through…
Listservs, blogs, and support websites.
Free community services (Cancer Support Community; Church, Synogogue, Mosque; local services at hospitals and social agencies)
Paid services within your budget (ride services; caregivers for children/eldercare; counseling).
[Next: When everyone on your list is tapped out and resources within your means are not meeting your needs.]
DANIEL CASTRO MAIA (Washington Post; 2020)
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