Soul Food with Pia Richardson: Even though big COVID threat has passed, it’s still affecting us in many ways

A few weeks ago, COVID came to our door. Knowing what I know about the mind and how it works, I was able to recognise that without us even realising it this can send our subconscious mind and nervous system into absolute upheaval. For two years now we’ve been fighting this invisible threat and then quite suddenly it arrives, turning out to be more of an inconvenience. It’s like the mental equivalent of aliens landing and bringing only offerings of peace — you’d be wondering at every moment when the other shoe was going to drop. But for most people it doesn’t, and after a few short weeks life is expected to return to normal. Whether you realise it or not, it takes a toll. So COVID came. It took a week to make its way through my family until it finally got to me. Because the rules had recently changed, I was allowed to leave the house with daily RAT testing — so the responsibility for ensuring both mine and my husband’s businesses, as well as the needs of the family were cared for fell to me. I’m not sure if anyone else felt like this but for me it was like living in the twilight zone! Testing every day, trying not to get too close to my staff just in case, taking on extra responsibilities as well as kids who were having some very big emotions AND trying to make sure we were in the best possible position for when it did hit. By the time it actually got to me I was completely and utterly exhausted! I was only mildly symptomatic so I rested as long as I could but at some point I felt like even though I was exhausted there was really no logical reason why I should be sitting around watching Netflix all day when for all intents and purposes I was perfectly healthy. In hindsight I realise that I should have taken that time to rest, as I desperately needed it, because when I left isolation I had the task of catching up on a week’s worth of work as well as all the usual tasks, all while running on 50 per cent battery and with a nervous system that was still expecting war. It’s been close to a month and while I am starting to feel more energised I find I’m hesitant to throw myself into the fullest demands of my regular life for fear it will topple an already shaky foundation. I feel like as a community this is also showing up in that the big wave of threat has passed, but it’s still affecting us on a daily basis. Things feel like they’re going back to normal — whatever that is — but there are still numerous roadblocks, staff shortages, housing shortages, supply chain issues that are disrupting our lives making it all feel very much not normal. I think the message is to be gentle with yourself. Be gentle with those around you. Life might seem normal but we are all still recovering from the single greatest disruptor to come along in many of our lifetimes. It will get better but just for right now we need to pull together and try to support one another as best as we can. Pia Richardson co-owns Railway Health Hub, is MD of Crossroads Life and runs Soul Food Cafe