Feeling anxious is normal especially when faced with the current public health emergency that is still on the news for over a year.
Getting a little bit of anxiety is not bad because it makes you conscious about the decision you are making concerning your health. It will encourage you to be prepared. When the anxiety becomes too much to a point where it starts affecting your ability to function. How can you manage the anxiety that comes with the pandemic?
We discussed the matter with WeShield – a professional-grade PPE and safety supplier who provides everything from Antigen tests to masks and safety glasses. Below we discuss some of what we talked about with them and will hopefully help relieve anxiety.
Tips for managing anxiety about the coronavirus
Educating yourself. You need to learn more about the virus, like what it is, the signs and symptoms, and measures you can take to prevent it.
Keeping Perspective. While staying informed is important, you need to keep perspective. There is no need to spend a lot of your time watching the news and reading news articles. You should have time to spend on other positive and important things in your life. A daily gratitude practice is good because it will help you become more positive and less anxious.
Taking precautions
Once you know the precautions recommended by health authorities, find a way of incorporating them into your daily routine. Now, the recommendations are the same as the normal flu protocols and also wearing masks in public and social distancing. Some of them include:
- Washing your hands with water and soap
- Avoiding those who have flu-like symptoms
- Staying home if you are feeling sick
- Having a regular health routine like eating healthy, sleeping enough, and exercising.
Staying connected. When you are feeling anxious, you need to have a support network of people you can talk to. They are going to help you remember the perspective you need and keep you grounded.
Use your coping skills. If you are experiencing anxiety in other areas, remember to use techniques to manage your anxiety levels, such as a mindfulness practice.
Seeking extra help. If you are still dealing with anxiety or panic is affecting your ability to maintain your regular routine, then it might be a good idea to seek additional support.
Being compassionate to yourself
People struggling with OCD and anxiety tend to be hard on themselves. They can start berating themselves when they are struggling or feeling deeply embarrassed and ashamed when they act on their compulsions. It is expected or even normal to go through times that are a little more difficult than others, and when you feel like OCD has the better of you, even after you have put in a lot of effort and work using the techniques that have always worked for you. During these times, you need to be kind to yourself and don’t judge yourself harshly. Just pick up where you left and keep in mind that the goal is not to be perfect. Recovery is not linear.