Coronavirus: How To Cope with Your Anxiety
How To Cope With COVID-19 Anxiety
Wow, we are living in crazy times (perhaps the most obvious statement of all time). I’ve really felt an array of emotions about coronavirus, the word pandemic, the media coverage of the global events, and quarantine life. While I certainly have had my moments, what has been oddly consistent throughout this experience is that my anxiety levels have remained pretty low. My ability to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic I think can be attributed to my overall ability to cope with anxiety.
Having daily anxiety or a panic disorder, you live your day-to-day life uncomfortable and uncertain in any situation you cannot control. It can be something as simple as driving a long distance in a car (more on how that triggers me here), feeling trapped (although you aren’t) with no easy exit, or having eaten or drank the wrong combination of things that all heighten your underlying anxiety or panic. In the global pandemic we are all facing now, that feeling of lack of total control could not be more apparent. You are worried for your health, concerned for family and friends, and uncertain about the future overall. I’ve been using a lot of my anxiety toolkit to navigate my feelings around COVID-19 and want to share a few things that have really helped me.
1. Focus On What You Can Control
First of all, I’ve been asking myself, ok Nic, what can you control in this situation? Focusing on what I can control immediately shifts me out of a panic state by understanding there are certain things that I can in fact have a grasp on versus things that are so much bigger than me. What are some of those things? First of all, my attitude. Although silver linings are challenging in this situation, if you dig deep, there are some. Maybe taking a forced pause and resetting could be healthy. For not only individuals in the long run, but also the environment.
Another thing I can control is how I take care of myself both physically and mentally while being thrown off my routine. It’s important for me to maintain a schedule. Eat healthy, do at-home workouts, and get plenty of rest to keep my stress levels low and my immunity high. When life as you know it is currently spiraling out of control (more of letting go of control, here), having a grasp on these things really helps me through.
2. Stop the Thought Spiral
It’s inevitable my thoughts will spiral depending on how much time I spend on social media. And how much of this pandemic the media is throwing at us. Because of that, it’s highly important that I constantly practice “thought stopping” and bring myself back to the present moment. The very best way I’ve found to do this is through meditation. Many amazing apps and resources are offering free live meditations, but I particularly like to turn to Gabby Bernstein’s teachings. I did this short guided meditation from her and felt immediately refreshed and relaxed. She’s a great follow if you are on Instagram as well.
3. Create Information Boundaries
I think one of the most important things I’ve done during this pandemic has been filtering my information intake and implementing energetic boundaries. Listen, I know myself. If I sit in front of the news or online for hours reading about COVID-19, I’m going to freak out. I have determined the amount of information that I need to stay informed. And turned toward resources that I know will deliver the facts without the hysteria. My family has been a great neutral resource for me to lean on for information. When it comes to emotional boundaries, I’ve had to limit how much information or discussion I am involved in with people who are hysterical about the pandemic and have only negative things to say.
4. Focus on the Good
Lastly, I’ve really been digging deep into that gratitude practice I speak so much about. In fact, I usually find my gratitude practice has a lot more meaning when I’m coming from a space of slowness and quietness. When you haven’t left your house in days, you really realize the basic things you are so fortunate to have. I am so grateful for the connections in my life that I can FaceTime on the regular. Great neighbors who check-in on me, my health, access to food, a roof over my head - the list goes on. There are so many things that I am fortunate to have. And there is no better time to reflect on these things than when the day-to-day has been shaken up.
Of course my anxiety has at times gotten away from me over these past few weeks - I’m human after all! I truly think what has kept me from panicking is implementing my day-to-day anxiety toolkit. And whenever it just seems to be bigger than even that, I just remind myself. And go to resources to remind me that this too shall pass.