Friday, July 31, 2020

Pandemic Schedule

The coronavirus pandemic really tested my nerves. Lately, I am getting better with not letting my anxieties get the best of me. The lockdown from March to June was scary for me. I was not able to feel calm. I was too worried that someone I loved would get sick. I got worried I might get sick. I wanted to try to have a more positive outlook but seeing the news everyday got to be very distressing. Many people were getting sick and dying. I stayed at home every day. I got really messed up. My aggression got more difficult to control. I was grabbing anyone who came too near me just because I felt mad and anxious. 

 

Problems with my aggression and anxiety were getting so bad. I felt depressed because I was a hardship on my family and I could not stop myself from getting more treacherous to deal with. The worst was panicking in the car and grabbing the driver of the car. I was my lowest in June. I could barely do anything. 

 

Mom researched how to help me. Mom has been helping me by doing things to help me feel less anxious. Mom reads me a chapter in the Bible every morning. I love hearing it and talking about it. Then I practice handwriting to answer questions about what we read. Then we pray. Hearing the Bible helps me hear God’s voice so I can be more connected to His peace.

 

I have learned to quiet myself with meditation. Sometimes we listen to a meditation app to guide us. It is relaxing. 

 

Then I do my neurodevelopmental movement program and my Special-Fit exercises. It helps me feel more control over my body so my crazy impulses don’t surface as much. I lift weights because it is supposed to help me be more tolerant to stress. I feel good having exercise as a daily routine. 

 

I eat lunch next. I have been doing the ketogenic diet to help me with my anxiety. I eat salad or eggs for lunch. It is bearable. I don’t get my goldfish or grapes but I can still eat berries and cauliflower pizza.  I take a probiotic. Looks like my health is getting better. I am slowly getting better. I feel calmer and happier. I get more restful sleep and energy with being on this diet. 

 

In the afternoon I ride my bike. I watch TV. I visit my grandparents. I might write a little. Every Monday I see my friend Brielle on Zoom. We have a Bible study. Her Uncle Terry teaches us. I love getting to participate. Brielle and me get to share our thoughts. Fear that I had about covid-19 gets less as I get more close to God by hearing His word. 

 

At night I have a healthy dinner with my family at the table. I make myself eat everything that is served. I have tried new foods like salmon, cashews, broccoli, and snap peas. I never would have tried these before. 

 

After dinner I help with cleaning up the dishes. Sometimes I throw out the trash. Then I go on another bike ride, listen to piano, or watch TV with my family. 

 

That is my daily pandemic schedule. Making a schedule with healthy habits is helping me to get through the pandemic. 

 

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing! Your strategy may help someone else who is struggling.

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  2. Sounds like a fantastic schedule! My son, Danny and i have been taking really long bike rides or walks every day. Movement always helps with anxiety. Thanks for posting, Philip!


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  3. You’re a very smart young man, Philip! Thank you for sharing your well-designed daily schedule. Glad it’s working well for you. My son Max has adapted pretty well to his pandemic schedule too! He still has his anxious moments but it seems to help him when I tell him to try to calm down by thinking about everything he is grateful for - God, family, home and health❤️

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  4. Awesome post Philip :) I'm big on schedules too; exercise, meditation, and spending time with family and friends is so important! Your writing is very clear, I quite like it.

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  5. This is really cool.my girlfriend has a nine year old son with non verbal autism and i read him the story of Noah's ark tonight. I will try to do things like that more because of what you wrote. I'm praying for your peace and happiness

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  6. Thank you for sharing your experiences, you don't know how much I appreciate your blog. My 4 year old daughter is non verbal and your blog gives me so much more perspective and information on how she may feel. May God bless you always and forever! Thank you

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