Managing Pastoral Anxiety in Times of National Crisis
Rhonda Abbott Blevins, Associate and Web Designer
Feeling stressed these days? I am. COVID-19 is turning our world upside-down. Conferences and travel plans are being halted. The stock market is spooked and may be headed to recession. Tom Hanks has the virus. Tom Hanks!
I am worried about sending my kids to school, about the welfare of my senior adult loved ones, about those without the means to weather the loss of income. Add to all that the yoke of pastoral leadership, and this clergy person is stressed out. Do we cancel services? If so, will that add to the anxiety and confusion some parishioners face? If not, will my greatest nightmare manifest, and someone will catch the virus because I didn’t cancel church? If we cancel, will our forced “social distancing” contribute to social isolation and hurt the delicate mental health balance of those who battle addiction, depression, anxiety, loneliness? What changes will we need to make in the face of a certain downturn in giving? Will we have to reduce staff? Will I have to cut work hours of people I care about who live paycheck to paycheck? Will I instead “take one for the team” and reduce my own salary, and if so, can my personal finances take the hit? And why didn’t I get a degree in broadcasting to figure out how to livestream a worship service with no parishioners present?
While pastors are not the only leaders facing difficult decisions these days, there is the additional emotional toll that comes with providing pastoral care in times of crisis. Who are the most vulnerable in our church? What will they need from their pastor and church family? Quick! How do I form a “Coronavirus Care Team” to do shopping and run errands for the elderly and those who are immunocompromised at the same time I’m contemplating calling off gathering entirely? And what about routine hospital and nursing home visits? Do I go, or is it better to make phone calls?
If you are a pastor, you’re probably feeling it. If you are not a pastor, this offers a glimpse into the stress your pastor may be experiencing.
How do pastors manage our own anxiety while simultaneously carrying the anxiety of the congregation? Here are a few reminders for these anxious days:
1. Talk it out. Call up a trusted friend. Set up an appointment with your therapist or clergy coach. Name the reason for your anxiety and invite that trusted individual to help you navigate the situation causing you the most angst.
2. Involve other leaders. The decisions for your church are not yours alone to make. Involve your lay leaders in the process. Lean on their wisdom and experience—they were made leaders for a reason. When appropriate, bring a medical professional into the decision-making process.
3. Make time for yourself. As the airlines say, put on your own mask before trying to assist someone else. Your congregation needs you healthy. Take that sabbath day. Keep it holy.
4. Engage in spiritual practice. This is a good time to pray, particularly contemplative prayer with its deep breathing. Pick up that journal and write. Take up the discipline of giving thanks. Return to the spiritual practice that best connects you to your Source.
5. Seek emotional release. Do you need to laugh? Watch some old “Saturday Night Live” episodes, play with your kids, or call that friend who always has the best one-liners. Do you need to cry? Maybe it’s time to watch “Old Yeller” and let the tears flow. Check in with yourself. Give yourself the emotional outlet you need.
6. Prioritize diet and exercise. Limit alcohol and increase water consumption. While comfort food may taste wonderful in the moment, you need healthy food to boost your energy and immune system. Exercise can be a great stress reliever. Make your body and your health a priority.
7. Get enough sleep. Stick to a sleep routine—same time to bed and same time to wake each day. Limit caffeine in the afternoon and evenings. And if you find it hard to sleep on an ongoing basis, talk to your doctor.
8. Limit news and social media. You know what’s happening in the world. You don’t need your Twitter feed to tell you the top 3,000 ways things are bad. I find reading news evokes less anxiety than a constant stream of broadcast news. Choose one solid source of reporting and stick to that.
9. Get over your “messiah complex.” There is a God and you’re not it. You can’t fix this national crisis or its impact on your church or your family. Let go of the illusion of control. Claim the cliché I learned as a young adult: “do your best, pray that it’s blessed, and God will take care of the rest.”
10. Seek clinical help. If your anxiety persists or becomes unmanageable, interfering with your daily life, it may be time to seek clinical help. Some physical symptoms of anxiety include: headaches, gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, fatigue, pounding heart or increased heart rate, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, trembling or shaking, and muscle tension or pain. There is no shame in being human, or in seeking help for your anxiety.
Thank you for what you do, pastor. Be gentle with yourself during these trying days. The work will be there after you take the time you need to recharge. Remember God’s presence with you, and how Jesus encouraged his disciples to “be not afraid.” Be well. And in the words of Julian of Norwich: “All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”