How do you find silver linings during the coronavirus crisis? An expert weighs in
During times of crisis, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but according to one expert, it’s not impossible.
Dr. Jen Hartstein, Yahoo Life Mental Health Contributor and practicing psychologist, says that finding silver linings during the coronavirus crisis isn’t as hard as it may seem.
“It’s important to take a minute to really look for the silver lining or for the good for yourself because it gives us some hope and it gives us something to strive for,” says Hartstein. “There’s so much negativity and so much negative news coming out that it’s very easy to just get stuck in how overwhelmed you are. Finding something to lean towards or lean into can be really helpful and that can be where the silver lining comes in.”
When it comes to identifying silver linings in your own life, Hartstein reveals that you can hold on to small things you can use later on.
“The more good things we can look for in our lives, the more good things we hold on to — it’s kind of like making a deposit in your ‘emotional bank.’ So now you have this great reserve of good stuff so that when a negative thing happens you still have something to pull on so you don’t fall into the well,” she says.
Hartstein adds, “That doesn’t mean the well won’t be there, that doesn’t mean you won’t hit bottom every once in a while but having a reserve in the bank is kind of like having savings for a rainy day—you have this emotional savings that can help pull you out of those negative spaces.”
If you can’t identify any silver linings around you, Hartstein suggests creating them for yourself.
“It can be as simple as ‘I’m really looking forward to watching this movie and I finally have time to do that,’” she says. “Sometimes it means slowing down, taking a deep breath, and really recognizing the small, little things.”
What are the silver linings in your life? Tell us below in the comments!
For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC’s and WHO’s resource guides.
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