The Coronavirus is causing necessary and unnecessary anxiety.
If you’re wondering how to cope with anxious feelings as it is surfacing, here are some tips to help you in the coming weeks.
If you already struggle with anxiety, worries about your health, or obsessive thoughts and actions, you might need additional assistance,
Knowing how to manage your own anxiety always takes a little thought so try to answer these questions:
- What do you fear the most?
- Do others around you seem more or less anxious?
- What usually helps you handle worries?
When there seems to be heightened anxiety as we are seeing with the press from the Coronavirus, it is important to stick to numbers and facts that are put out by reputable sources. Try not to listen to friends, co-workers or people on social media…you will simply get misinformation and you will be in jeopardy of taking on others peoples anxiety instead of focusing on necessary concerns.
Please don’t overdose on hype or worry or misinformation. Get regular updates from credible sources in the morning and check again briefly toward the end of the day. There’s no need to stay tuned in 24/7, it can actually make your anxiety much worse.
When anxiety rises because we’re facing a distressing threat like the new coronavirus, we need to focus on what tends to work for us to ease.
Keep these thoughts in mind. You’re fully prepared to help yourself. You can take steps to calm and steady yourself. Remember what works for YOU in times of crisis.
Try to connect with friends and supportive people through video, phone calls, texting, and email. It really helps to feel the strength of your connections to your friends and loved ones, even though you may not be with them in person.
Here are some tried and true ways to ease your anxiety:
- Regular meditation is very calming. Many apps teach simple forms of meditation, such as Headspace or Calm.
- Yoga is a stress reducer. Yoga Studio and Pocket Yoga are good apps to consider. You can also access a lot of yoga classes on www.Youtube.com
- Breathe- You can do deep breathing as a way to relax you mind and body. Take ten deep breaths in and pay attention to your mind body connection.
- Read a good book, watch a funny movie, do an art project, clean your closets.
Try to stay calm. News about the virus will likely grow worse, then grow better. Listen to public health experts who can help us navigate the path ahead. Take sensible steps that can help us all: get your bearings, practice good hygiene, use calming strategies that work for you — and maybe try something new. Making healthy, reasonable choices about what to do and what not to do will make a big difference in being able to stay as safe and as well as possible.
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