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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 19 ,2 02 1 | 42 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST DIRECTORY If you'd like to advertise your place of worship in this featureplease email Fionafrudder@starmetrolandmedia.comWorship PENTECOSTAL UNITED Tel: 416-892-8123 Fax: 1-866-281-5983 Bishop M. Brissett (Pastor) Email: mjbrisse@yahoo.ca Jesus is lOrd Oakville PenTecOsTal aPOsTOlic cenTre 454 Rebecca St (St. Paul's United Church) Oakville, ON Sunday Service 12:30 - 3PMWorship Service Sunday Evening: 7:30-9PM (Via Zoom Virtual Platform) *Covid-19 Safety Protocols Strictly followed.* Oakville Seventh-day adventiSt ChurCh tel: 289-830-6717 Mark ewen (Senior Pastor) Carl Cunningham (associate Pastor) dean lashington (lead elder) Twitter: @Oakvillesda Email: oakvillechurchsda@gmail.com Saturday (Sabbath) Worship Service: 10am-1pm Wednesday Evening Service: 6:30pm-7:30pm Thursday Evening Service: 6:30pm-7:30pm Zoom id 867 6764 2331 Password: worship Theme: in Jesus nameWe Press On Website Promotion: www.oakvillesdachurch.org 1469 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville 905-825-5292 www.glenabbeyunitedchurch.com GLEN ABBEY UNITED CHURCH REV. TED VANCE IS ON VACATION In times like these, a Church service can help provide some normalcy and hope! To help your Church survive the pandemic, please send e-transfers to: donations@glenabbeyunitedchurch.com Thank you and God Bless you! ONLINE CHURCH SERVICE AVAILABLE ANYTIME GOTOYOUTUBE.COM and search Glen Abbey United Church OR Click on www.glenabbeyunitedchurch.com This Sunday, Aug 22nd: THANKSTO GLENN MACPHERSON FOR LEADINGWORSHIP The resumption of social events and interactions follow- ing months of COVID-19 pan- demic isolation will look differ- ently for different people. This means friends, family members and coworkers in a person's life will likely land on various areas of the spectrum, based on their own comfort lev- els and their individual risk as- sessments. Martin M. Antony, professor of psychology at Ryerson Uni- versity, said these differences will range from people who will continue to not leave their home, to people who have been leaving their home for months prior to it being deemed safe to do so. "We're going to see that full range as we come out of it, with people being maybe too comfort- able to the point of potentially taking risks that are not recom- mended, to people not able to leave their house at a time where everybody else is back at work," he added. Thomas Ungar, psychiatrist- in-chief at St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, agreed. At a recent Ontario Medical Association forum, Ungar ad- dressed what coming out of the pandemic could look like, not- ing a small percentage of people will likely be "partying like nothing happened," while oth- ers will be more reluctant or fearful. He added that people are re- silient and most will experience feelings of anxiety and depres- sion that are expected; however, a very small subset of people who had pre-existing mental health issues prior to the pan- demic "may need some extra support (or) actual treatment." CAUSES OF ANXIETY Antony said there are a num- ber of factors contributing to people's feelings of anxiety as they begin entering into social situations again -- a primary one being uncertainty around guidelines and what is safe and unsafe, as there are inconsisten- cies in the measures implement- ed here and in other countries around the world. As well, he said, when people find something difficult to do, but haven't done it in a long time, it only makes it more diffi- cult to resume. This challenge may be felt by those who, in pre- COVID times, already had a fear of contamination or anxiety when in social settings. "Many people get anxious eating with other people and having to make small talk," he said. "Having not done it for a long time and being out of prac- tice will make that more anxi- ety-provoking for some people." MITIGATING FEARS AND ANXIETY In an interview, Ungar said the best way to deal with COVID- related fears and anxieties is to first acknowledge that feeling a little bit of anxiety is healthy and normal. He said the best way to over- come those feelings is with grad- ual exposure, while keeping within public health guidelines. "Negotiating that gradual re- entry is going to be a little bit awkward and nerve-racking," he said. "Allow yourself to feel that, but try to do a little bit of it anyways." Chatting about these anxious feelings, or bouncing ideas off people you trust, can also help. "Usually when we do things with others, it's nice, if we have that luxury, because we're going through the same experience to- gether," he said. NAVIGATING CONFLICT AND DISAGREEMENT Antony said another com- mon challenge people will face is disagreeing with certain fami- ly members and friends about COVID-related comfort levels. Antony advises Ontarians to "be patient with people who are not where you're at." He added that the more you pressure peo- ple to do something, the more they tend to "dig in their heels" and not want to do those things. Ungar noted it is important for people to focus on them- selves and do what they need to feel safe. "You can really only control and be responsible for yourself and allow others the same free- dom," he said. "But if that means that you're having a birthday party for your kid and an uncle or aunt isn't vaccinated and doesn't want to be, you are free to not invite them or not allow them in," he added. "And that's awkward, but again, you can only control yourself. HOW TO NAVIGATE SOCIAL SITUATIONS AFTER MONTHS OF COVID-19 ISOLATION VERONICA APPIA vappia@toronto.com NEWS GRADUAL EXPOSURE WILL HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME FEARS, ANXIETIES: EXPERTS