The Pandemic Numbers Are Increasing
We are now told that the pandemic figures are increasing again. In my area, ambulances bringing patients to some hospitals have to sit and wait for seven or eight hours before they can move their ill occupants into the emergency department because of the shortage of beds. This is probably due in part to the post-holiday spike as some people didn’t cooperate with advisories to limit travel and indoor activities. And it is probably also due to the COVID mutant which, although not more deadly, is more contagious.
COVID Fatigue and Its Sources
Many people are feeling “COVID fatigue,” and are losing patience with the advised restrictions. Patience is required, but there are many reasons why it can be difficult. If one’s life is already busy, full of necessary activities, the additional time and effort required for precautions may result in work overload that leads to sleep deprivation, irritability, depression, and even death (known in Japan as “Karoshi,” death from overwork).
Patience in the face of COVID restrictions can also be difficult for those who are confined to small quarters with others, especially with their children. The mental apparatus must register all stimuli and match each stimulus with an appropriate response. When a person has insufficient alone time, the extra work demanded of their mental apparatus leads to fatigue. As this situation continues, it eventually becomes intolerable.
Speaking of children, many parents are getting unwelcome, and sometimes frequently changing, information about whether their children can go to school. The frustration, and sometimes fury, over this problem can also become exhausting; exhausting their capacity for patience.
Some People Have Never Developed an Adequate Capacity for Patience
During development, patience is gradually acquired as children are exposed to manageable levels of frustration. If they are overindulged, they don’t experience adequate frustration. If, on the other hand, they are deprived, the resulting excess frustration causes anger, anxiety, and/or depression, rather than promoting the ability to be patient.
What Can You Do?
Using my complimentary Tool will provide periods of peacefulness and calm. And in Step 3, you can wish for a new mental pathway dedicated to helping you with whatever problem is contributing most to the strain on your patience.
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