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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in ways that we couldn’t imagine. Some businesses remain partially shut down, others are trying to reopen, and many people are nervous about leaving their remote jobs to go back to the offices. For a lot of us, this level of “uncertainty surrounding coronavirus is the hardest thing to handle” because we are still unsure of how bad things are [1]. This can leave us with new anxieties, but there are ways to combat these feelings surrounding the changed world we live in.
It’s great to stay informed about the pandemic, but obsessively checking the news may heighten your anxiety. If you want to check the news, make sure that it’s from a reliable source like the CDC (Center for Disease Control or Prevention) or the World Health Organization. If you start to feel overwhelmed, it's recommended that you “step away from media,” [1].
Another thing that you can do to reduce anxiety is to connect with others, which is something “many of us either stopped doing or moved online during the initial period of tight COVID-19 restrictions,” [2]. It is still possible to hang out with friends and family as long as it is done safely. It is recommended to spend time with people who are fully vaccinated and to get vaccinated yourself to reduce the spread.
The most important thing that you can do to reduce the anxiety that comes with COVID-19 is to protect yourself as much as you can. Most of the time, “action is the antidote to anxiety,” and taking those actions will help to protect you and your loved ones [3]. It is recommended to “wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, wear a mask when you venture out, and keep your distance from people you don't live with,” [3].
Other than these COVID-19 related ways of reducing anxiety such as staying informed, keeping in touch, and protecting your loved ones, you can also do other things to reduce your anxiety. This can include breathing exercises, maintaining a schedule or routine, seeking professional help, and similar healthy habits. With habits catered to both our physical and mental health, we can help ourselves to cope with anxiety during the pandemic.
References:
1. Coronavirus anxiety: Coping with stress, fear, and worry. Coronavirus Anxiety: Coping with Stress, Fear, and Worry. (2021, October 12). Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/coronavirus-anxiety.htm.
2. Fulton, A. (2021, September 4). 6 tips for coping with Covid anxiety this fall and Winter. NPR. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/09/04/1033672045/6-tips-for-coping-with-covid-anxiety-this-fall-and-winter.
3. Miller, A. M. (2020, July 6). 12 ways to cope with coronavirus anxiety, according to psychologists. Business Insider. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-cope-with-coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-psychologist-2020-2.
Contributors:
Author: Kayjah Taylor
Editor: Sara Giarnieri
Health scientist: Rayven Hall
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