The Three "F's"
What helped me cope was finding ways to reduce my worrying. For me, relief came in three " F's:" Faith, Friends, and Flipping.
Faith
The first thing I did was lean in on my faith and trust that God would give me the strength I needed. When I sought him out during my darkest hours, He was there for me. Every time.
Friends
I also reached out to my friends for support. It wasn't easy telling them what my family was going through, because of the worry I had over their reactions. However, when I finally broke down and opened up, I found the compassion and support I really needed. I also learned that some of them were dealing with the same issues, and we were able to share strategies with one another.
Flipping
Finally, whenever I began to worry, I flipped my thoughts to things that made me thankful. The more things I found that were blessings in my life, the happier I felt. As I felt happier, the mountain of problems I was facing looked less threatening.
Whatever you're going through, you are not alone. There are many of us walking the same road, and we are thinking of you and praying for your families. Please find positive ways to cope and reach out for support. We'll be here for you.