Thread by @jensimmons

Right now, responsible news sources & medical pros are pleading with us to avoid getting or spreading COVID-19. Asking us to stay home, cancel events, change how we live. Yes. We *must* do these things to help each other & lessen the overall impact. Collective action & benefit.

And yet, this pleading with us to avoid, avoid, avoid also leaves each of us with a lot of fear & stress. What if we can't avoid it? What if it gets me?

I always find it helpful to face such fears straight on. What am I afraid of exactly? What if that happens? What's the worst?

In this case, what happens if I, or people I care about, get COVID-19? Ok. So, what should I do if that happens? How will I know? What decisions will have to be made when? What is likely to happen? How can I prepare, mentally, if nothing else.

I find it comforting to think about after. After I have gotten it, and recovered, what will I do? What can I do?

What will rebuilding look like? How can I help my neighborhood bounce back? If I have it earlier than most people, what can I offer later?

For some people, this is too terrifying. They know they must avoid it. Must.

For others, soothe your fears by thinking about what comes after. Think about getting well, and how you want to help other people.

Shoving down your fear by pretending this isn't that bad doesn't actually help. And it seriously doesn't help those are most risk if you continue to live life like nothing is going on, perhaps spreading the virus.

Don't deny this. Go through the fear. Feel it. Follow it.

If you really feel your fear — sit with it, let yourself react to it, breath deeper and feel it more... it will fade. It will subside. There's peace on the other side of terror.

The more you feel it, the more it will go away.
The more you avoid it, the more awful it gets.