E-PPE is Flying Off the Shelves! Time to Restock … Again ….

“We are burning through our most irreplaceable health-care resource – us!”   Mark Greenawald, MD

Here we go again … again!  Just when it appeared that maybe this time we were beginning the long COVID recovery journey, the “delta force” resurges and brings omicron and influenza with it.  And now our collective will and emotional reserves both seem to be stretched to places most of us have never been before.    

Here’s what I’m seeing (and often experiencing):  despair, disgust, anger, anxiety, fear, rage, confusion, demoralization, grief, isolation, numbness, frustration, resignation, weariness, guilt, shame – just to name a few.  Too many of us are feeling emotionally raw and it is painfully obvious how many others are teetering on that same edge as they struggle to hold it together.  I can hear it in their voices.  I can see it in their eyes.

With the pseudo-end of the pandemic once again past and as our seemingly unrelenting challenges continue, the resulting threat of another wave of negative emotional contagion demands that we heighten our “protection,” both for ourselves and others.  As such, maintaining an adequate supply of emotional PPE (E-PPE) and donning it appropriately will be essential.  Here’s how that needs to look now:    

Mask – Allow your E-PPE mask to be a reminder that words matter.  Speak clearly, mindfully, and at an appropriate volume so as to not spread any negative emotions to others.  Because it can sometimes be difficult to understand the speech of those wearing masks, clarify anything that sounds concerning to you and assume positive intent until proven otherwise.

Goggles/Face Shield – While you may choose to not wear actual eye protection, your E-PPE shield or goggles are more essential now than ever.  Be even more aware of making eye contact when speaking to others and allow your “eyes and voice to smile” when your expressions are hidden.   While wearing these, sometimes your vision can become foggy, so be sure to regularly seek the perspective of others to clarify what it is you think you are experiencing.  

Gloves and gown – Use appropriate emotional protection and distancing when necessary, but don’t allow caution to become a barrier to essential relationships and life-giving connection, including the vital human need for physical touch, be it a fist pump, elbow bump or hug (see last week’s Take 3 PeerRxMed Pointer).      

Remember, it is our collective emotional PPE that is more important than ever for the protection of ourselves and others.  The good news is that we don’t need to depend on a supply chain to replenish our stocks.  E-PPE is in abundant supply, so if you feel yours is running low, a colleague (your PeerRxMed buddy for one!) is always there to help.   Commiserate as needed, and then support each other to get to a more life-giving place.  In these emotionally laden times, we need to be remembering with even greater urgency that no one should care alone … ever ….