#35: Coping with Pandemic Fatigue

#35: Coping with Pandemic Fatigue

Author: Bay Area DBT & Couples Counseling Center March 17, 2021 Duration: 33:25

As we pass the year mark of pandemic life, many of us are exhausted and eager to get back to how things used to be. While there are positive developments with vaccination rates rising and case counts lowering in some parts of the world, the finish line is still far away. We need emotional stamina to stay the course and tolerate the limits on daily life that the pandemic imposes. In this episode, Marielle and Ed discuss lots of DBT skills that can help you do this.

DBT Skills Discussed:

  • Validation
  • Mindfulness of Current Thoughts
  • Mindfulness of Current Emotions
  • Radical Acceptance
  • Check the Facts
  • Opposite Action
  • Problem Solving
  • Accumulating Positive Emotions

To learn more about this podcast and get full show notes, go to www.bayareadbtcc.com

Ask us a Question

We'd love to hear from you! Where are you getting stuck with your skills application? Ask us a question for the chance to have it answered on the podcast. Submit your question here. 

Please note that questions, and this podcast in general, are not a substitute for individual mental health treatment.


Hosted by the clinicians at the Bay Area DBT & Couples Counseling Center, The Skillful Podcast is a practical guide for anyone feeling stuck in their emotional patterns or relationships. Instead of abstract theory, each episode breaks down tangible skills from two powerful frameworks: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically-Open DBT (RO-DBT). You'll hear straightforward explanations of concepts like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation, but also learn about the often-overlooked skills of openness, flexibility, and social connectedness that RO-DBT emphasizes. The focus is always on application-how to take these ideas off the therapist's couch and weave them into your daily interactions and internal world. Whether navigating personal stress, a challenging conversation, or the pursuit of a more fulfilling life, this podcast offers concrete tools to try in real time. It’s a resource for building resilience from the inside out, episode by episode. Tuning in feels less like a lecture and more like a thoughtful consultation, where complex psychological wisdom is translated into actionable steps for reducing suffering and fostering deeper connections with others and yourself.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 61

The Skillful Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#30: What Happens When You Have an Emotion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:36
Today, Marielle and Ed unpack what happens in the body and mind when an emotion occurs. There's actually a lot going on! If you are sensitive to or are confused by your emotions, it can be helpful to have an understandin…
#29: Using DBT Skills in Anti-Racist Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:25
Today Marielle and Ed offer ways to use DBT skills to support emotional equilibrium during a time where systemic anti-black racism is being confronted and discussed in new and necessary ways. This episode is not about ho…
#28: Listener Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
Today Marielle and Ed answer listener questions. The first question is from a listener in Sweden about how to cope with anger at others for not taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. Question two is about how to use DEA…
#27: Radical Acceptance During a Pandemic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
Today's show revisits Radical Acceptance in the face of a global pandemic. Marielle and Ed discuss how they are using this skill (or not using it!) during this time. Ed is using Radical Acceptance a lot lately, as he fee…
#25: Coping With COVID-19 [Part 2] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
Today, Marielle and Ed continue to discuss DBT skills to cope during a pandemic. We are all going through a collective trauma and need extra support. The DBT skill called Check The Facts is explored. We also explore the…
#24: Coping With COVID-19 [Part 1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:55
In today's episode, Marielle and Ed explore skills to help you cope with your emotions as we collectively face a pandemic. Many of you may be feeling intense distress on a regular basis during these uncertain times. DBT…
#23: Pros and Cons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
Today's show covers the DBT skill called Pros and Cons. While most of us have already done informal pro and con lists in our heads when facing a tough decision, the DBT take on Pros and Cons is a little different. Pros a…
#22:  Build Mastery and Cope Ahead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:24
In today's episode, Marielle and Ed discuss the emotion regulation skills of Build Mastery and Cope Ahead. These are future-oriented skills that involve some planning to carry out. Build Mastery is a way to strengthen yo…
#21: Surviving Sexual Assault with Dr. Kelsey Harper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:23
Today I'm talking with Dr. Kelsey Harper, a clinical psychologist and DBT therapist who works with trauma, PTSD, and chronic emotion dysregulation. With over a decade of work spanning varying settings and clientele, Kels…