INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The surgeon general says this week could be one of the worst we see of the coronavirus' spread and the number of deaths.
This sobering news has probably increased your anxiety.
So every Monday, 13 News Anchor Andrea Morehead is talking with a licensed therapist and social worker with tangible ways for you to cope during this time.
NaKaisha Tolbert-Banks breaks down how we can turn this crisis into "The Comeback."
"I love the fact that as a therapist, you have decided to use crisis more as an acronym, and let's talk about what that "c" stand for?" asks Morehead.
"That "c" is about caring for yourself and others. We have to take care of ourselves first. We have to do a check in to see where we are, how we're feeling, what we're thinking. And that allows us a little bit of wiggle room of space to take care of other people," said Tolbert-Banks.
Morehead asks, "How can we prepare ourselves emotionally for really becoming the teachers for our children at home now?"
Tolbert-Banks said, "I have kids too that are going to be doing e-learning, so we're trying to figure out how do we maneuver everything and it's just about being creative. Seeing how they can help, maybe it's smaller tasks of setting up their school space per se."
"Now more than ever, it's really kind of honing in on those things that are important to you as a family," said Morehead.
"Have Easter! I think for each family that does celebrate it's going to be interesting to see how much more personal you can make it this year," said Tolbert-Banks.
"It's like creating a tradition if you will!" said Morehead.
"Yes! That's exactly it. We're doing cookies this year, and frosting and sprinkles and we'll have a big Easter egg hunt in our yard. Usually we're spending time with my dad, but this year, we'll be here without him. Again, it's an opportunity if we see it that way to make a new tradition," said Tolbert-Banks.
"What do you say to someone who is watching you, watching us, and they think to themselves, you know what 'I've always had an idea but I just didn't have the time?'" said Morehead.
Tolbert-Banks said, "I use a cooking analogy. You get this new recipe, you bake this cake the first time, it doesn't rise fully. Well maybe you forgot an ingredient or you needed to let it bake a little longer so you try it again, right, and each time that cake gets better and better, but you keep trying. So the first time wasn't a fail, it just didn't work. So if you change your perspective to say, I'm gonna try this and if it doesn't work you can go back to doing whatever it was you were doing before, but if you never try, you'll never know what that thing will work. So, do it. Do it! Do it! Do it!"
And she did it.
Tolbert-Banks' comeback was leaving her corporate job seven years ago to become a full-time licensed therapist.
Next Monday, we'll talk about the "r" in crisis which stands for respect for self and others.
To connect with NaKaisha Tolbert-Banks: info.duoservices@gmail.com
And if you have an inspirational story that can help all of us push through together during this uncertain time in our lives e-mail Andrea: thecomeback@wthr.com.