How To Share Your Anxieties About COVID-19

COVID-19 is gripping our nation in ways not previously seen in our time — possibly ever. With millions of people out of work, and thousands of others sick, few feel safe from the grip of the disease. To be sure, scores of articles with titles like “How To Talk To Your Kids About COVID-19,” have popped up on the Internet. Seemingly absent are thoughtful pieces about how to share our COVID-19 fears and anxieties with the people in our lives. I’ve adapted the below piece — which I originally wrote for aspiring storytellers — to help you communicate your fears and anxieties about COVID-19. Following these 10 tips will aid you in sharing the impact of COVID-19 with the important people in your life.

1) Tell a Story About You. COVID-19 has affected various people in different ways, but the most powerful stories are about you. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t talk about other people’s experience. Rather, I’m saying that sharing an account about another person’s COVID-19 experience limits you to recounting the facts of what transpired. This is especially true if you weren’t there when the event happened. Since you experienced your story and know it better than anyone else, you will connect with people more effectively.

2) Tell the Truth. Don’t embellish your account. People can tell when you’re not straight with them, and when they learn that you haven’t been telling the truth, you lose credibility and empathy.

3) Teach a Lesson. Just like fables, personal accounts often teach the listener a…