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It’s still OK to not be OK

The coronavirus is taking its toll on all of us, whether or not we’re among the more than 1,800 Northeast Michiganders infected with the virus since the pandemic reached Michigan in mid-March or among the dozens of families who’ve lost a loved one to COVID-19.

Maybe we’ve lost our job. Maybe our favorite restaurant has closed. Maybe we’re missing our coworkers as we’re forced to work from home. Maybe home has its own stresses and now there seems no escape. Maybe we’re missing our families at the holidays.

Maybe it’s just hard to see a light at the end of this tunnel, which just seems to get longer and longer every day.

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: It’s OK to not be OK.

Being anxious, stressed, or depressed right now is normal, and it’s OK to tell others how you’re feeling.

Through Zoom or a phone call or a socially distanced in-person meeting, reach out to a trusted friend or loved one. Talk about your feelings and encourage each other. If things seem really bad, don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional for help.

We need to take care of our mental health as much as our physical health, because mental illness can be just as deadly.

It’s OK to not be OK. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourself.

And we will make it through this.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)

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