Canadian doctor Aisha Ahmad has worked in difficult circumstances in her career. According to her bio, she’s done fieldwork in conflict dynamics in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Lebanon, Mali, and Kenya. She started a tweet thread after realizing that some of those experiences apply to quarantine, and the seemingly unending need to extend lockdown measures all over the world against coronavirus.
She started by writing, “The 6-month mark in any sustained crisis is always difficult. We have all adjusted to this ‘new normal’, but might now feel like we’re running out of steam. Yet, at best, we are only 1/3 the way through this marathon. How can we keep going?”
Only one-third of the way?? I thought she was trying to be reassuring!
Dr. Ahmad says it’s very normal that people hit a wall at six months during a “tough assignment.” That’s one way to think about a pandemic! She has obviously been given real assignments in hostile places and under challenging conditions, probably much worse than most of us hanging out in our apartments ordering groceries to the door. Even researchers who want to do these assignments also want to get away at around six months. The important thing is getting through:
This time, our crisis is global and there is nowhere to run. That’s OK. I’ve had to power through that 6 month hump before and there is life on the other side. Right now, it feels like we looking ahead at long, dark wintery tunnel. But it’s not going to be like that. /3
— Dr Aisha Ahmad (@ProfAishaAhmad) September 20, 2020
This is my first pandemic, but not my first 6 month wall. So, what can I share to help you? First, the wall is real and normal. And frankly, it’s not productive to try to ram your head through it. It will break naturally in about 4-6 weeks if you ride it out. /5
— Dr Aisha Ahmad (@ProfAishaAhmad) September 20, 2020
Even if you feel you’ve adjusted to some degree, like finding ways to safely socialize or have fun again, there will be curveballs. For instance, Winter. If shorter days suddenly break down whatever positive feelings you’ve managed to build up, don’t worry. They’ll come back, too:
Also, don’t be afraid that your happiness & creativity are gone for the rest of this marathon. Not true. I assure you that it will soon break & you will hit a new stride. But today, roll with it. Clear away less challenging projects. Read a novel. Download that meditation app. /7
— Dr Aisha Ahmad (@ProfAishaAhmad) September 20, 2020
In my experience, this 6 month wall both arrives and dissipates like clockwork. So I don’t fight it anymore. I don’t beat myself up over it. I just know that it will happen & trust that the dip will pass. In the meantime, I try to support my mental & emotional health. /9
— Dr Aisha Ahmad (@ProfAishaAhmad) September 20, 2020
Though this experience has been mentally and emotionally exhausting, Dr. Ahmad is also trying to get people to see how much they’ve already managed to get through:
So, dear friends, do not despair of the 6 month wall. It’s not permanent, nor will it define you in this period of adversity. Trust that the magic that helped you through the first phase is still there. Take a breath & a pause. You’ll be on the other side in no time. /end ❤️🙏🏽
— Dr Aisha Ahmad (@ProfAishaAhmad) September 20, 2020
It’s hard for me to celebrate the “endurance” of humanity when so many of the current conditions shouldn’t have to be endured and could be corrected by the actions of a competent government. But I do think people need to hear that there is hope for the future, or at least hope for the next six months. Take care of yourself so we can keep taking care of each other.