When will the pandemic end? When will life get back to normal? The up-in-the-air answers to these questions result in a "large, looming uncertainty" that hangs over our lives, said Holly Schiff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at Jewish Family Services of Greenwich. According to Mary Joye, LHMC, a licenced mental health counselor in Florida, that lack of control can manifest as anger and fear aggression, causing people to lash out and further degrade family relationships.
What to do: Dr. Schiff recommended establishing a routine. "Especially during this time of uncertainty and stress, it is this consistency and predictability that will help maintain a sense of normalcy," she explained. "There is some reassurance in knowing what's going to happen and when, not to mention that routines promote positive physical and mental health." Schedule in exercise, regular meals, and healthy amounts of sleep, she said. "When faced with events that are scary and largely out of our control, it's important to realise what you can control."