((PKG)) ALONE TOGETHER -- FEARS
((TRT: 07:38))
((Topic Banner: Alone Together: Fears))
((Reporter/Camera: Esha Grover, Vero Balderas))
((Producer/Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Fairfax, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Cherokee, North
Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina))
((Main characters: 6 female; 3 male))
((Text on Screen: As COVID-19 ravaged the United States, it
brought with it fear.))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sheyahshe Littledave, Author and Publisher, Cherokee,
North Carolina))
My name Sheyahshe Littledave. I work at Cherokee Indian
Hospital on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina.
When COVID-19 first came on the scene, I had actually a lot of
fears and a lot of anxiety. And initially, a lot of the concerns were
around older people who are more at risk. So, I immediately had
fears, anxiety about my parents, especially my dad. My dad's
really high risk. So, I was very adamant about, “You don't go
anywhere. You wear your mask.” I'm sure I probably got on their
nerves, but I felt like, in that moment, that was the only thing I
could control.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Kevin Mahoney, Peer Support Specialist, Mountain Area
Health Education Center, Asheville, North Carolina))
I’m vaccinated. I’m still ultra-cautious; two masks, social distance.
I don’t go out. I don’t go to restaurants. That’s in the interest of
public safety. I've had five bypasses of my heart, two years ago.
You know, coagulation issues, because COVID causes your
blood vessels that react strangely. Terrified each day like if I get it,
I'm not, I don't think I'm going to make it. So, extensive anxiety,
fear of death, and fear of, you know, losing loved ones and
friends.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Nicole McKinney, Paramedic, Buncombe County
Emergency Medical Services, Asheville, North Carolina))
My name is Nicole McKinney. I’m a paramedic with Buncombe
County EMS [Emergency Medical Services] in Asheville, North
Carolina.
In the very beginning, a lot of people were scared. And so, we
saw a significant decline as far as like people calling 911. And I
think that was bad in a way because people were scared to go to
the ER [Emergency Room], but they know that they needed help.
But then, they were waiting like almost too long.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Henry Johnson, Peer Recovery Specialist, Fairfax, Virginia))
My name is Henry Johnson. I am a peer recovery specialist in
Fairfax, Virginia.
I am in recovery for serious mental illness myself. I am more
vulnerable to uncertainty and anxiety due to not knowing. I have
been terrified of mutations. From the very beginning, when I heard
of the option to, you know, mass expose and achieve herd
immunity that way, that caused me nightmares. The idea that this
vaccine isn't going to be enough, that's what keeps me up at
night.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sherrie Arnold, Information Technology Professional,
Alexandria, Virginia))
I'm Sherrie Arnold. I'm 57 years old and mother of a 15-year-old
daughter. I've worked in information technology in my
professional career.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dave Arnold, Chef, Alexandria, Virginia))
And I'm Dave Arnold, parent of the same 15-year-old daughter
and I'm a professional French-trained chef and instructor.
Both sets of our parents are right in the demographic where if
they do get sick, it's going to be a very tough road for them to
handle.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sherrie Arnold, Information Technology Professional,
Alexandria, Virginia))
Losing my father in January, that was my worst fear, you know,
for the elderly people in our family.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dave Arnold, Chef, Alexandria, Virginia))
The worst fears for me is I contract it and don't make it and I’ll
leave wife and child behind. That’s my worst nightmare.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Catherine Lieberman, Director, Bell's School, Asheville,
North Carolina))
My name is Catherine Lieberman. I’m an early educator.
My husband is a teacher and was exposed by students who
refuse to wear masks. And the result was that he got sick. And I
thought that was the worst of it until recently, until last week. I
thought, maybe, we were gonna come out the other side. And we
lost a cousin to coronavirus. And that was my biggest fear and it
was realized. To watch my cousin go through this with her very
young children, that was my biggest fear, was losing someone
and it’s been realized.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Madeline Arnold, Student, Alexandria, Virginia))
Emotions are a lot right now to deal with because it's so hard to
deal with this. We never would have thought this would ever
happen before. We weren’t prepared and we didn't know how we
were going to feel about it. Sometimes, it's like I'm stuck. I have
10 assignments that are missing, and everything's due in two
weeks, and I have no clue what to do. I'm stuck.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Angela Conner, Senior Therapist Supervisor,
Alexandria City Community Services, Alexandria, Virginia))
Angela Conner, licensed professional counselor. I work for
Alexandria City Community Services, Child and Family Behavioral
Health Services.
I think teenagers feel more anxiety now.
They no longer have their face-to-face peer interactions. They no
longer have their safe places to go. They no longer have teachers
or counselors or their support systems to outreach to. More so,
it’s just the therapist and it’s virtual, which makes it, you know,
super stressful. You know, a lot of teenagers have lost people
because of COVID. And that's brought about a lot of challenges
for them to function.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Nicole McKinney, Paramedic, Buncombe County
Emergency Medical Services, Asheville, North Carolina))
With this job, you're headfirst into it.
So, it's, you're fearful at work, but then you don't want to take it
home. So, you're doing everything that you can to make sure that
that doesn't happen. But unfortunately, it still does happen
sometimes.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sheyahshe Littledave, Author and Publisher, Cherokee,
North Carolina))
I think what's helped is just how we've adapted over time. And
everybody keeps calling it, you know, the new normal. But the
new normal is kind of, it's comforting for me, because, you know, I
know what the expectations are. And I know, you know, wear your
masks and wash your hands, you know. I am comforted by the
guidelines and things now just because, you know, we are a little
more settled into this.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Henry Johnson, Peer Recovery Specialist, Fairfax, Virginia))
One of the things that decreases my anxiety is unplugging. I
found that taking time off, not watching the news, you know,
multiple hours a day, you know, doing things like listening to
music or meditating, you know, they help a lot more. I've read
quite a bit and I've gotten into audio books. You know, escaping
to other worlds rather than just dwelling on the imperfect present.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((TRT: 07:38))
((Topic Banner: Alone Together: Fears))
((Reporter/Camera: Esha Grover, Vero Balderas))
((Producer/Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Fairfax, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Cherokee, North
Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina))
((Main characters: 6 female; 3 male))
((Text on Screen: As COVID-19 ravaged the United States, it
brought with it fear.))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sheyahshe Littledave, Author and Publisher, Cherokee,
North Carolina))
My name Sheyahshe Littledave. I work at Cherokee Indian
Hospital on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina.
When COVID-19 first came on the scene, I had actually a lot of
fears and a lot of anxiety. And initially, a lot of the concerns were
around older people who are more at risk. So, I immediately had
fears, anxiety about my parents, especially my dad. My dad's
really high risk. So, I was very adamant about, “You don't go
anywhere. You wear your mask.” I'm sure I probably got on their
nerves, but I felt like, in that moment, that was the only thing I
could control.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Kevin Mahoney, Peer Support Specialist, Mountain Area
Health Education Center, Asheville, North Carolina))
I’m vaccinated. I’m still ultra-cautious; two masks, social distance.
I don’t go out. I don’t go to restaurants. That’s in the interest of
public safety. I've had five bypasses of my heart, two years ago.
You know, coagulation issues, because COVID causes your
blood vessels that react strangely. Terrified each day like if I get it,
I'm not, I don't think I'm going to make it. So, extensive anxiety,
fear of death, and fear of, you know, losing loved ones and
friends.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Nicole McKinney, Paramedic, Buncombe County
Emergency Medical Services, Asheville, North Carolina))
My name is Nicole McKinney. I’m a paramedic with Buncombe
County EMS [Emergency Medical Services] in Asheville, North
Carolina.
In the very beginning, a lot of people were scared. And so, we
saw a significant decline as far as like people calling 911. And I
think that was bad in a way because people were scared to go to
the ER [Emergency Room], but they know that they needed help.
But then, they were waiting like almost too long.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Henry Johnson, Peer Recovery Specialist, Fairfax, Virginia))
My name is Henry Johnson. I am a peer recovery specialist in
Fairfax, Virginia.
I am in recovery for serious mental illness myself. I am more
vulnerable to uncertainty and anxiety due to not knowing. I have
been terrified of mutations. From the very beginning, when I heard
of the option to, you know, mass expose and achieve herd
immunity that way, that caused me nightmares. The idea that this
vaccine isn't going to be enough, that's what keeps me up at
night.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sherrie Arnold, Information Technology Professional,
Alexandria, Virginia))
I'm Sherrie Arnold. I'm 57 years old and mother of a 15-year-old
daughter. I've worked in information technology in my
professional career.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dave Arnold, Chef, Alexandria, Virginia))
And I'm Dave Arnold, parent of the same 15-year-old daughter
and I'm a professional French-trained chef and instructor.
Both sets of our parents are right in the demographic where if
they do get sick, it's going to be a very tough road for them to
handle.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sherrie Arnold, Information Technology Professional,
Alexandria, Virginia))
Losing my father in January, that was my worst fear, you know,
for the elderly people in our family.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dave Arnold, Chef, Alexandria, Virginia))
The worst fears for me is I contract it and don't make it and I’ll
leave wife and child behind. That’s my worst nightmare.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Catherine Lieberman, Director, Bell's School, Asheville,
North Carolina))
My name is Catherine Lieberman. I’m an early educator.
My husband is a teacher and was exposed by students who
refuse to wear masks. And the result was that he got sick. And I
thought that was the worst of it until recently, until last week. I
thought, maybe, we were gonna come out the other side. And we
lost a cousin to coronavirus. And that was my biggest fear and it
was realized. To watch my cousin go through this with her very
young children, that was my biggest fear, was losing someone
and it’s been realized.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Madeline Arnold, Student, Alexandria, Virginia))
Emotions are a lot right now to deal with because it's so hard to
deal with this. We never would have thought this would ever
happen before. We weren’t prepared and we didn't know how we
were going to feel about it. Sometimes, it's like I'm stuck. I have
10 assignments that are missing, and everything's due in two
weeks, and I have no clue what to do. I'm stuck.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Angela Conner, Senior Therapist Supervisor,
Alexandria City Community Services, Alexandria, Virginia))
Angela Conner, licensed professional counselor. I work for
Alexandria City Community Services, Child and Family Behavioral
Health Services.
I think teenagers feel more anxiety now.
They no longer have their face-to-face peer interactions. They no
longer have their safe places to go. They no longer have teachers
or counselors or their support systems to outreach to. More so,
it’s just the therapist and it’s virtual, which makes it, you know,
super stressful. You know, a lot of teenagers have lost people
because of COVID. And that's brought about a lot of challenges
for them to function.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Nicole McKinney, Paramedic, Buncombe County
Emergency Medical Services, Asheville, North Carolina))
With this job, you're headfirst into it.
So, it's, you're fearful at work, but then you don't want to take it
home. So, you're doing everything that you can to make sure that
that doesn't happen. But unfortunately, it still does happen
sometimes.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Sheyahshe Littledave, Author and Publisher, Cherokee,
North Carolina))
I think what's helped is just how we've adapted over time. And
everybody keeps calling it, you know, the new normal. But the
new normal is kind of, it's comforting for me, because, you know, I
know what the expectations are. And I know, you know, wear your
masks and wash your hands, you know. I am comforted by the
guidelines and things now just because, you know, we are a little
more settled into this.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Henry Johnson, Peer Recovery Specialist, Fairfax, Virginia))
One of the things that decreases my anxiety is unplugging. I
found that taking time off, not watching the news, you know,
multiple hours a day, you know, doing things like listening to
music or meditating, you know, they help a lot more. I've read
quite a bit and I've gotten into audio books. You know, escaping
to other worlds rather than just dwelling on the imperfect present.
((NATS/MUSIC))
