This is sort of the opposite of me, because the pandemic is so the center of my life right now. But that's in part because I have D at home and have to deal with not only my reactions to this, but also hers, all of her distress about not being able to go to restaurants or playgrounds or most anywhere (she keeps refusing to go for neighborhood walks), without really understanding what's going on (I've tried to explain, but, I mean, this is an event beyond many people's comprehension, let alone an 8-year-old on the autism spectrum). Suddenly, she has no school, can't go anywhere, can't see her grandparents...


And in addition to struggling with helping her get through this, I'm dealing with my own sadness/frustration about not being able to go anywhere, my lack of much space/time to myself at home, and my fears about what's going to happen with the virus (will my parents get sick, maybe get hospitalized, and possibly die? Will I? H? Dr. T? D? H's Mom?) Is it OK to go to the grocery store? Is it safe to get carryout? I need to mail a package--is the post office too much of a risk? I mean, today, I tried going for a walk, and there was someone jogging in the other direction, and I panicked--should I cross the street? Hold my breath for the time it takes to pass them? But then, they would have breathed out where they were running from, too. And I ended up crying from that and from whatever songs coming up on my shuffle that all seemed to somehow fit the situation or were too happy or too sad. Like, I feel I'm barely holding it together from day to day. Today's the first day since Monday that I didn't "meet" with a T of some point--Tuesday was D's T, P, the other three times were Dr. T (added an extra session Wednesday). I will likely end up checking in with him via email over the weekend (I wanted to email today after my walk, but resisted).

I'm glad you're handling it all better--I feel so much has to do with each person's life circumstance right now, like do they live alone? with a partner? Is it a good or awful relationship? Kids at home? Having to work from home with kids? Working at a job where you still have to go on site and are potentially putting yourself at risk? Particularly healthcare worker, but also grocery store employee, etc. And also people's psychological makeup.


But it could make sense to cancel if you have nothing to talk about. I will say, Dr. T said many of his clients have cancelled, either because they're concerned about their financial situation or else don't want to do teletherapy. So he's thanked me for helping keep him in business. But canceling right now seems to be a common thing. When's your next session?