Cope With Anxiety During Coronavirus Pandemic

Treatment options

Coronavirus locked hundreds of thousands of people in their homes and introduced us to an entirely new meaning of social distancing. While we are socially distancing from each other, it seems that we cannot escape from our thoughts and worries in these uncertain times. It has now been more than a month since the novel Coronavirus was declared as pandemic disease, and the world is still in fear that the end is not near. All that is leading to the point where we might have another pandemic to worry about, and that is anxiety, but there are ways that you can cope during this time.

Acknowledge Your Anxious Feelings

With it’s Spike protein sequences being studied for generating vaccines, the COVID-19 outbreak is indeed a serious threat not just for our physical health but also for our mental health. The fact that this is a global threat that is invisible yet so powerful to pause our lives is crazy. 

There are so many conspiracy theories, false news, worse case scenarios, etc that it is hard to stay out of it. It seems that there are no other news these days except for those about Coronavirus like nothing else is happening in the world; we are just counting infected, deceased, and healed.

It is okay to have negative feelings and worries in situations like these. People can rarely stay positive. Staying at home and doing nothing for weeks is not normal, not seeing your friends, family, or coworkers. All that leaves an impact on our mental health. Some people cope better with loneliness and isolation; others do not, and that is okay, but you have to be aware of it and talk to someone. 

Cope with Your Anxiety

No one knows how long this will last or how it is going to end. That is the biggest problem, the uncertainty. That is why the best you can do now is to focus on things you can control and ways to avoid anxious thoughts. Here are some ways to achieve that.

Don’t Follow the News 24/7

Staying informed is essential in this situation, but you cannot allow yourself to track every information, every update, every number so obsessively. It is too overwhelming, and that is one of the reasons why you’re feeling like that. Check the news once or twice per day as it is crucial to stay up to date with the latest guidelines and the situation in your community. But everything more than that is too much.

Focus on the Things You Can Do to Protect Yourself

One of the rare things that are under our control at the moment are the steps that we can take to protect ourselves. That implies practicing social distancing, washing your hands regularly, not touching your face, avoiding crowds, and going out in general.

Stay In Touch With Other People

Luckily, COVID-19 did not stop one thing, and that is the internet. The internet allows us to stay in touch with friends and family members that we cannot meet, so whenever you feel down, or you are overthinking, call someone. Talking to someone else and sharing your concerns helps because you’ll know that you are not alone in this. Also, there is a vast number of free psychological counseling right now, so if you feel like you need to talk to an expert, you can go online to find their number.

Nourish Your Soul and Body

Everyone is trying to find its own way to cope with this situation. Some are cooking, others are binge-watching TV series. Probably the only good thing about this pandemic is that now we have the time to dedicate to ourselves and practice self-care. When was the last time you did something like that? Here are some recommendations, but you do not have to follow all or any of them; everyone has a different definition of self-care.

  • Create a routine and try to maintain it. This means going to bed at the same time, studying regularly, eating around the same hours, pretty much maintaining your usual workday schedule.
  • Dedicate your time to activities you enjoy. Whether it is cooking, reading, dancing, playing an instrument, or a video game, go for it. Now you have the time to do it without any pressure or commitment. 
  • Go outside. Yes, we know this is against quarantine and home isolation, but if you have a backyard or a terrace, you can spend your time there. Being out on the sun and fresh air will help you relax, clear your mind, and feel good about yourself.
  • Find the best medical billers to help you with your medical practice so you can get healthy
  • Start exercising. Staying active can help to relieve stress and also to keep your muscles in shape since we are not moving that much now. Find some easy online exercises and incorporate them into your daily routine; you will feel more productive and positive.

Don’t Let Coronavirus Control, Learn to Cope

Coronavirus is already controlling our lives in some way, but you should not allow it to get inside of your head. That might be even more dangerous than catching the virus itself. Anxiety and stress can be a serious health concern, which is why you have to fight them. Just like you are taking steps against Coronavirus to protect your physical health, you have to take certain steps to protect your mental health.