As we are witnessing 2020 is getting crazier and crazier, emotional self-care is getting more and more crucial. A lot of people, especially those who like to pay close attention to what’s going on in the world, are the victims of stress loop over the COVID-19 pandemic that are unnecessary, unhealthy, and unhelpful. Some would say, the unwanted situation wants them to keep checking the news which might be a hazardous job. And with each news or tweet they read, they lose the ability to cope with anxiety during coronavirus.
The eyes are dry from not blinking, heart rate is elevating and breaths are dangerously short. Calming anxiety is getting inevitable, especially where diverse people are in common share. Talking to friends and family is bringing a little relief to the people as they come to know that they are not alone with those thorn feelings.
Being stuck at home all day, having no idea when this is going to end, and watching the news go from bad to worse can make quarantining really stressful. According to health experts, it’s also the perfect storm for feeling powerless and anxious and more susceptible to unhealthy thoughts. We came up with a list of a few habits that can ease anxiety and help de-stress and de-escalate the situation.
- Get dressed: It’s really important and funny at the same time because a lot of people are saying, “We are getting dressed from the stomach up only when needed like while video chatting. We still want to get up and feel good.” Well, what allows us to feel good is self-care, which means that if we are dressing for the part, then we will feel the part. If we are going to stay in our pajamas all day, then we’re just going to feel like we want to pull the covers over ourselves. So it’s important to not just feel the part, dress for the part, or do the part. If you’re feeling it, doing it, and thinking it, then that is another buffer against depression and anxiety.
- Establish a routine: Even though you may not be in control of what’s happening in the world outside your space, you’re in complete control over what happens in your space. So maintain the routines, because that allows us predictability, that allows us consistency, and that helps us know what is going to happen next. Maintaining those consistent routines and structure is hugely important right now.
- Worry: Now you’ve established your routine, give yourself permission to worry, but don’t let that fear take over. What we do for people who are ruminating over their fears is what we call 15-minute worry time. It means literally taking paper and pencil and writing out for 15 minutes what you’re worried about. Being worried for a few minutes can help you cope with anxiety during coronavirus, which is also good for mental health.
- Be social: Keeping a physical distance from people doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be talking to your friends or your co-workers. In fact, it probably means you should be talking to them more. And technology allows us to do as much or as little of that as we want. Squeeze out some extra time to talk to people who are usually ignored in your contact list. You can even keep talking about nothing to somebody. So schedule in your procrastination.
- Set some goals: Turn your New Year’s resolutions into quarantine resolutions. We have been in a place where everyone is just so unnecessarily busy. Most of the time busy elites say, “Well, if only I had more time. If only there were more hours in the day.” Well, here you go. You’ve got plenty of time now. You’ve got plenty of hours in a day for you to be at home. So finish those projects that you’ve put on the bucket list. Read that book that’s been on the shelf for many years. Start that hobby that you’ve been wanting to pick up. Learn a new skill, whether it’s learning a new instrument or learning a new language.
These are just a few ways to help cope with anxiety during coronavirus and make the best of the time that you have. The goal here is to preserve your mental health.
What therapists are dealing with?
Psychologists are saying that constant exposure to the news can definitely make the problem worst and spike the anxiety. Taking unnecessary mental stress can cause sleeplessness, anxiety attack, headache, anger, or migraine in the worst condition. Dr. Laura Tabak, a psychologist at SF and Kentfield said, “If you’re engaging with the media constantly you can be in a perpetually heightened state of anxiety. I’m seeing a lot of clients uninstalling social media as a way to limit their exposure to content. It’s hard for people to self regulate and understand when they’ve reached their limit.”
Now uninstalling social media apps from your phone is an external factor where people usually fail and re-installation happens as being a slave to their addiction. However, it’s an understandable web get tangled in. Tabak said, she encourages people to pay attention to their bodies while they’re consuming content. The truth is we might have to live like this for a while, but that doesn’t mean we have to be stressed out or anxious about it the entire time.
Also Read,
5 Reasons To Feel Optimistic About Coronavirus
Vitamin C: An Effective Coronavirus Treatment
