How to Reduce Anxiety During the Covid-19 Outbreak
The spread of the coronavirus has made many of us feel more stressed and anxious than ever. We’re living a new reality where we’re staying inside more and not meeting up with people as much.
The news is informing us of grim new numbers on a daily basis. It’s important to take care of your mental health perhaps now more than ever. You can follow these tips to help reduce your anxiety during this challenging time period.
1. Keep yourself informed
It’s necessary to keep yourself aware of what you need to do to keep you and your loved ones safe. An example of helpful knowledge is knowing the timespan the coronavirus can develop.
After someone comes in contact with the cold, it can develop after one to three days. With COVID-19, it can develop after two weeks of coming into contact with it. You can be informed of more of this information by reading reliable sources such as the CDC or the World Health Organization.
They provide guidelines you can follow such as handwashing, and also give updates on the virus. In addition, you can catch the news on your local station to know what’s going on in your community.
While staying informed can help ease some of your concerns, it’s important not to be consumed with all of the stressful news of the day. Hearing about the virus all the time will only make you feel overwhelmed. Give yourself breaks throughout the day from reading, listening, or watching any news stories.
2. Take care of yourself
Maintaining healthy habits can reduce the amount of anxiety you feel. Be sure to get regular sleep, eat a nutritious diet, and exercise regularly. As many people are forced to stay indoors more, it can feel lonely sometimes for those who live alone. You should take time to call or video call those you care about to share how you’re feeling and let out some of your concerns.
It’s good to also practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, and cognitive coping. Take time to find things to laugh about, enjoy some music you like, and try to keep a positive attitude. Additionally, it’s still safe to walk outside of your home and get a little fresh air.
One thing you shouldn’t turn to for reducing stress is alcohol. It’s the number one substance problem in the United States. Both alcohol and caffeine aggravate anxiety and panic attacks.
Limiting these two substances can keep your anxiety to a minimum. In addition, getting sunlight can reduce anxiety and stress levels as well. If you live in a sunny area like Tampa, which receives approximately 246 days of full sun every year, try opening the windows to let in as much sunlight as possible.
3. Be prepared
A lot of our daily life routines have had to change because of recent stay-at-home orders in our communities. Since there are no plans for these orders to end anytime soon, it’s important to be prepared for however long this time period lasts. You’ll be less worried if you have all the things that you need.
Get enough food, medication, personal items, and household items to be able to stay inside for long periods of time. Along with reducing your anxiety, taking fewer trips will lessen your contact with others, and minimize your risk of catching coronavirus. If you have children in your home, stock up on some crafts, coloring books, and other items to help keep them entertained and less anxious with having to stay inside more.
As stressful as the coronavirus news is right now, we can all make choices and decisions that can help us feel more calm and relaxed. Keep these tips in mind whenever you’re feeling anxious. As you do your best to take care of yourself, you’ll be better able to feel peace during these challenging times.
