Don't take your tension to sleep with you.

I received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine this week. Thankfully, the only side effect I experienced was a sore left arm. It wasn’t much different than the soreness I felt from the flu shot, so it was tolerable. I encourage my fellow Massage Therapists in medical settings to go and get their Covid 19 vaccination. It is especially crucial during this time when you are working closely with clients during the regional state shutdown.

I stood in a long line among all different types of health care workers. Many of them still wearing their scrubs after working a long shift the night before. They looked tired. I sensed the anticipation in knowing that in just a few minutes a vaccine would bring much needed reassurance. I couldn’t help but sympathize with the exhaustion and tension they must be feeling.

My son is an ICU nurse. He has worked hard throughout the pandemic. He tells me remarkable stories about his colleagues and how they support one another in extremely challenging situations. It is clear that these front of the line medical workers, are gifted unique individuals.

We are all links in a chain, serving people with immense compassion. My son being a critical care nurse, is a bridge between this world and the next. In my work, I serve as the bridge between stress, anxiety, depression and the ER. Do you know how many people have ended up in the ER over the years due to extreme amounts of stress? They are medicated to get a good night’s sleep and then can be released the next day. Make no mistake, there is a tremendous amount of stress in this pandemic on many levels that if not addressed now, it will resurface later on.

When you want to avoid dehydration, you drink water throughout the day, not months later. Find the time to center yourself, breathe deeply, do something nurturing for yourself. A hot aromatherapy shower relaxes the muscles, don’t take your tension to sleep with you. Run, bike, listen to calming music. Speak to your Creator. The small intervals throughout your day and week that are spent replenishing you, are your tremendous supplements to a less stressful tomorrow.

Patricia Huff, a South Pasadena resident and Massage Therapist. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TYQVG14?ref_=dbs_dp_wim_sb_tkin&binding=kindle_edition