Coronavirus, COVID-19, shelter-in-place, pandemic, social distancing, these are all terms you’ve likely heard very often throughout the past weeks. I’m sure you’re exhausted from all of the coronavirus conversation and may be even feeling anxious. That is okay. There is no “right way” to feel in a situation like this. Also, everyone is not going to have the same reactions to this and that is also okay. If you are feeling anxious, here are a few ways you may be able to reduce some of that anxiety.

Surviving Is Enough

Remind yourself daily that in the middle of a pandemic, surviving is enough. You may feel pressure to take advantage of your “free time” or be extra productive because you are home. This is not that time. This is not the “free time” you were always hoping for. When we are in a state of survival, it is the most difficult times to access the parts of ourselves that are creative, motivated, focused, disciplined, and all of the areas necessary to being productive. If you are not feeling motivated to start that side business or complete that home improvement project, you are not alone. Today, surviving is enough.

Grieve

Whether we like to admit it or not, we are all experiencing grief. Grief can be described as a response to a loss of someone or something. We are grieving the loss of what was and constantly bargaining with the “new normal”. The 5 stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I’ve certainly experienced all of these stages throughout these times. The thing about grief is that it is not fixed.

You do not graduate to the acceptance stage and remain there. Grief tends to come in waves and you one day you may be in the anger stage where the next you may be in acceptance. Just as there is no right way to emotionally handle a pandemic, there is no right way to grieve. Everyone’s grieving process will look different as we move into the unknown.

Limit Media Intake

One of the quickest ways to reduce your immediate anxiety is to limit your media intake. It’s nearly impossible to turn on the news or go through social media without hearing talks of coronavirus. Doom and gloom sells and can also be highly addicting. Because we are feeling anxious, we tend to attempt to ease that anxiety by being distracted by the news that actually creates more anxiety.

I’m not saying there is not valuable or necessary information in the news. However, much of that vital information can be consumed in approximately fifteen minutes or less per day. Having a cap on the amount of time you consume media can significantly reduce your overall anxiety.

Stay Connected

We are social creatures designed to connect with each other. One of the toughest parts of this pandemic is being disconnected from others in ways that we’ve never had to. Without much competition, the first things I hear people say they want to do when restrictions are lifted is spend time with their friends and family. Sheltering in place does not mean isolation. Isolating and disconnection can lead to anxiety and depression. Although you may not be able to meet in person, find ways where you can connect with your friends and family through platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, Facebook, and many others. It cannot replace face-to-face interaction, but having some form of connection with others is essential to our mental and emotional health.

Although we have progressed in recent years, there remains a stigma surrounding mental health. If you are feeling anxious, please remember that you are not alone and that there is nothing wrong with you. There is no shame in what you are feeling and it is okay to talk about it.