How To Cope With Anxiety Around COVID-19
As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, you may find yourself experiencing a wide range of thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in both adults and children.
Common reactions include:
- Feeling stressed or overwhelmed
- Anxiety, worry, or fear
- Sadness, tearfulness, and/or loss of interest in usual enjoyable activities
- Physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, stomach upset, low energy, or other uncomfortable sensations
- Frustration, irritability, or anger
- Feeling helpless
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Isolating or withdrawing from others, and/or fear of going to public spaces
Below you will find some helpful strategies to cope with stress, anxiety or distress during this time:
Seek accurate information
Finding credible sources you can trust is important to avoid the fear and panic that can be caused by misinformation.
Follow protection and prevention recommendations provided by qualified health professionals
Right now, the recommendations are:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Maintain social distancing
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Practice respiratory hygiene (cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze)
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
- Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Set limits around news and social media
It’s understandable to want to keep informed, but constantly reading, watching, or listening to upsetting media coverage can unnecessarily intensify worry and agitation. Checking in at specific times each day can help you think less about it and maintain a regular schedule.
Maintain your day-to-day normal activities and routine where possible
Having a healthy routine can have a positive impact on your thoughts and feelings. This can include: eating healthy meals, physical exercise like walking, running or stretching, getting enough sleep, and doing things you enjoy.
Seek extra help
If you’re still struggling with your anxiety or experiencing panic that is affecting your ability to maintain your regular activities, you may consider seeking additional support.
At The Therapy Centre we have skilled Psychologists, Social Workers and Psychotherapists who effectively treat a variety of issues that may arise from the COVID-19 situation including fears, health anxiety, how to manage uncertainty and how to increase ones tolerance for the unknown. At The Therapy Centre we are now offering Telehealth services including secure phone sessions and videoconferencing.
Our offices are located at 2525 Old Bronte Road in Oakville and 849 Upper Wentworth Street in Hamilton-just minutes from the QEW and easily accessible from Peel Region, Halton Region, Halton Hills, Stoney Creek and Niagara Region.
Sources:
–About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/
-Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html#r)
-Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public, https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
-“Psychology Works” Fact Sheet: Coping With COVID-19, https://cpa.ca/covid-19/
-Coronavirus: Managing Stress & Anxiety by Daniel Harbridge, https://cmhakelowna.com/coronavirus-managing-stress-anxiety/
-What to do if you’re anxious or worried about coronavirus (COVID-19),
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