Since the pandemic have hit our lives, every individual is been battling with stress, depression and anxiety. Covid-19 has change the way of living drastically no one would have imagined such situation in our wildest dreams. The uncertainty of life and being worrisome for future is what keeps us anxious all the time. How can we cope up with stress and anxiety in such times? Do you think that the world and our will be stagnant now like we have reached the end? You can’t stay close to your loved ones in order to protect them. We all are facing hard times aren’t we? But have faith that things will ultimately change and we will have normal life soon!
In amidst of covid-19 everyone around us seems confused and tensed. We all have unique fears, perspectives and needs. Within your family and close friends too, there seems to be tensed.
1. Think about how you can reduce your chances of infection.
Have you decided to follow the guidelines? If so, it is time to set limits with the pandemic itself. Tell yourself you are doing everything within your control that you consider reasonable and necessary that is hand washing, wearing a mask, social distancing and leave the rest alone.
2. Stop listening to other people’s opinions.
This can include masks, social distancing, or any number of issues. The people around you have likely heard the same guidelines as you have. It is difficult because your anxiety may tell you that you need to take charge of the pandemic and educate others in order to protect yourself and your family. Avoid not overburdening yourself and remembering that taking that responsibility on yourself may get you down.
3. Worried about your job/business?
Time is hard for all of us! Recognize that there are alternative positions and competing priorities in terms of opening the economy while reducing the spread of the virus. People are coping with economic consequences from the measures we have taken so far. They are highly motivated to restore their finances. They have a different perspective and your attempt to convince them is unlikely to result in a change of behavior. Losing a job is not an end of the world; every day is a new opportunity!
What you should you do if you feel sick?
I am feeling sick what should I do? You don’t have to be one of the most vulnerable to feel scared. COVID-19 is hard to understand and even harder to see. Monitor the symptoms so that they are clear in your mind and you don’t have to guess what they are as soon as you feel a little sick. If you feel gentle symptoms, you should call your doctor and ask some questions.
Keeping a daily check on your symptoms and feelings is another way to keep your long-term perspective grounded in reality. Keep a record, you may be tempted to exaggerate, or undervalue, the severity of your symptoms over time.
When to consider professional help?
Keep in mind, if you feel that you need help, you should get it. Don’t get caught up in second guesses or self-doubt. Does your anxiety interrupt or distract on your daily life? Don’t be embarrassed call your doctor and explain to them what is wrong with you?. These are especially stressful times.
Types of anxiety you might be facing.
Situational anxiety- is clearly tied to a specific event or circumstance. Remove the circumstance and the anxiety lessens.
Chronic anxiety -is like a hungry animal that constantly looks for food the circumstances don’t matter. When the feelings come, you may attempt to solve it by seeking reassurance or avoiding what is seen as the problem. When the anxiety doesn’t go away, it becomes the way you look at life.
Focus on the things you can control
Hard times lie ahead. There are so many things outside of our control, including how long the pandemic lasts, how other people behave, and what’s going to happen in our communities. That’s a tough thing to accept, and so many of us are reacting by endlessly searching the Internet for answers and thinking over all the different scenarios that might happen. However, as long as we’re focusing on questions with unknowable answers and circumstances outside of our personal control, this strategy will get us nowhere aside from feeling drained, anxious, and overwhelmed.
If you feel yourself getting caught up in fear of what might happen, try to shift your focus to things you can control. For instance, you can’t control how severe the coronavirus outbreak is in your city or town, but you can take steps to reduce your own personal risk such as:
- Keep washing your hands frequently (for at least 20 seconds) with soap and water or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Try to avoid touching your face (particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth).
- Stay home as much as possible, even if you don’t feel sick.
- Avoid crowds and gatherings of 10 or more people.
- Avoid all non-essential shopping and travel.
- Keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and others when out.
- Get plenty of sleep, which helps support your immune system.
- Following all recommendations from health authorities.
Plan what you can do?
It is natural to be concerned about what may happen if your workplace closes, your children have to stay home from school, or someone you love gets sick, or you have to self-quarantine. While these possibilities can be scary to think about, being proactive can help relieve at least some of the anxiety.
- Writing seems to be a good way to distract yourself. Write down specific worries you have about how coronavirus may disrupt your life. If you start feeling overwhelmed, take a break.
- Create a list of all the possible solutions you can think of. Try not to get too focused on “perfect” options. Include whatever comes to mind that could help you get by.
- Stay focus on concrete things you can problem solve or change, rather than circumstances beyond your control.
- After you’ve evaluated your options, draw up a plan of action. When you’re done, set it aside and resist the urge to go back to it until you need it or your circumstances significantly change.
