Covid cases are increasing, how can you manage your anxiety?
WHO reported a record number of new Covid cases with United States, Brazil and India with the biggest increases. See the latest official numbers in your region at www.bing.com/covid.
Our lives continue to be disrupted. Anxiety levels continue to increase with the frustrations of either being alone, living in a small shared space with others, losing a job, uncertainty of career progression, or providing financially or medically for our families.
In these uncertain times, it will be hard to design a life to your liking, but we hope that these tips help ease your pain and reduce the anxiety.
😷 Accept your reality
It is normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or angry during a crisis. This is new for everyone and no one has the ‘right’ way of dealing with the situation. Accept the new local law and order being imposed for your and your family’s safety. Wear a mask! It keeps you and others safe.
🥦 Maintain a healthy lifestyle
In addition to maintaining a proper diet and keeping up with physical activity, a healthy lifestyle includes sleeping well and staying in touch with your loved ones at home and by whatsapp/phone with other family and friends. It’s a great time to call someone who you haven’t been in touch for the past two years. Call someone who you met on a trip. Or call someone who you went to high school with. While it is a sad reality, life has taken a pause and is a great time to reconnect with others before life becomes super busy again. Also, after being on multiple weekly video calls with your friends or family, it is ok if you are tired of it. If you are not able to go outside for a walk, do 20-min workout sessions at home. There are many such classes on YouTube or your favorite fitness apps.
🎤 Create new habits
Keep to your regular routines and schedules as much as possible. But staying at home might also mean having to accommodate to each other’s schedules or not able to follow up on your routine schedules. It is ok to be flexible and try to create some new habits. It doesn’t mean that you are letting go of who you used to be. It’s more about allowing yourself to be flexible and challenging yourself to something new. Try a new hobby — singing, cycling, hiking, painting, yoga. If your neighborhood and city laws allow, then try to meet your friends in a safe and socially distant manner, which might be a new way of being with your friends. Chai on the terrace is safer than a drink in a pub. Create new rituals with your friends that are pandemic friendly.
📞 Talk to people you trust can help
Human beings are social animals. We want to be in the company of friends or family and share our lives with them. Don’t let ‘stay at home’ orders be an excuse not to reach out to your friends and family. Don’t let your ego come in the way of telling others that you feel lonely or depressed. There is nothing wrong in having these feelings. Don’t use smoking, alcohol or other drugs to deal with your emotions. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to a counsellor. Please reach out to Hello@getstressguru.in to get more resources or speak to a counsellor.
💖 Listen
Your significant others, children, parents and yourself, need extra love and attention. Remember to truly listen to others and yourself and identify stressors and help resolve without judgement. This is a hard one, but a tip that will go the long way of keeping peace at home.
😭 Limit exposure to negative triggers
Limit worry and agitation by lessening the time you and your family spend watching or listening to media coverage that you perceive as upsetting. If all you talk at home and with your friends is about coronavirus and the disruption that it has caused in your life, then take a pause from that narrative.
ℹ️ Be informed
Gather information that will help you accurately determine your risk so that you can take reasonable precautions. Find a credible source you can trust such as WHO website or, a local or state public health agency. Wear a mask!
🚦 Have a plan
It is important to have a plan so that you have a guided path to what to do when you are in panic mode or need help. Identify the resources in your city and neighborhood. Identify doctors and hospitals who you can contact to seek help for physical and mental health needs, if required.
