Managing Anxiety In These Pandemic Times

Is it just me or this lockdown feel much harder than a first one?

Is it the weather or the shorter days which can affect our mood?

Is it the harder restrictions on travel or it just wintertime when our mood is lower in general?

In the summer lockdown, the weather was much warmer and nicer, we could walk, grow our beautiful gardens, enjoy the exercise outdoors and that felt manageable.

When now the sky is grey, it’s cold and wet outside, it’s dark so early and if you are working from home it’s dark when you start working and it’s dark when you finish work.

These factors have a dramatic effect on our mental health and unfortunately, they don’t make it healthier.  

From December 2019 till the present day, Covid-19 is still in action, making a vulnerable situation all over the world.  It has infected millions of people and caused many deaths all over the planet.  During these unusual circumstances, people are affected by thousands of problems in their lives.  Some lost their loved ones. Some lost their jobs.

There is a massive sense of uncertainty about our life and how do we need to act to just accept it as new normality rather than fight with it.

Managing anxiety in these pandemic times is the most important thing to consider nowadays.

If we are in a state of anxiety our internal self is in a fight or flight response making us feel as though something bad is going to happen.

If you are mentally unfit, get frightened, and anxious during this time, you will get long-term disturbance in your overall health and the ripple effect of this state can follow your life long after it all comes to some kind of normality.

 So, if you are feeling stressed and want to manage your mental health during the covid-19 era.

Here are the things; you can follow.

• Pay attention to the tasks that are in your control:

Do focus on the task that you are performing.  Either it is cooking or reading; pay your full attention to it.  In this way, your mind will concentrate on that particular task and will not whirl around the unnecessary thoughts.

• Give importance to your feelings:

Sometimes, it is okay to be sad. When you are feeling anxious because of stress or tension, which is concerned with your loved ones.  Take your proper time to come out of it. However, don’t overburden yourself with that tension.  For example, if your near one or loved one is affected by a pandemic and you are tensed.  It is completely fine.  Yet, you don’t need to get too much of it that your health will become problematic.  You are not going to help them by trying to take their problems on your shoulders.

• Get in touched with your circle:

While managing anxiety in these pandemic times, it is necessary to keep yourself connected with your friends, dear ones, and family.  It will give you more power and aid you to cope with the challenges; you are facing.  Sometimes talking to your family member or your friend gives you an alternative way to tackle that particular problem which you are handling.  Get in touch with your friends through calls, video chats, and messages; you will surely enjoy their company and feel relaxed.

• Take breaks: if you are feeling worried, divert your attention by watching some funny movies, reading a romantic novel, doing deep breathing exercises such as yoga, or playing a video game.  You can also spend time in your garden, enjoying the company of plants or get plenty of sleep. These small activities will create a positive impact on your personality and make you feel good.

Avoid watching the news as it might have a negative impact and will feed that managing anxiety of yours.

• Do something creative. Creativity- its food for your soul.

Draw something, it doesn’t have to be bad or good. Grab a piece of paper, borrow the crayons or paints from your kids and grandkids and just let your hand create something simple or more challenging.

It’s a blessing that we still have internet available, so we can spy on some other crafty creative ideas and be inspired from them if we cant create something on our own for managing anxiety.  We can download the apps.  It’s the act of creating that is important and therapeutic rather than a final result.

• Don’t get frustrated by social media.

There are a lot of uninformed and negative people around who would only focus on negative events in their lives and would notice only negative stuff happening around them.  Somehow they take pleasure in spreading this negativity as well.  These kinds of people can be very toxic and I would avoid them at all costs.

95% on Facebook are toxic.  It must be true because I have read it on Facebook! ?

• Take an online course.

There are so many free courses in any subject you can imagine.

You can learn anything from baking to ancient history nowadays.  You can learn a new language or new creative skills in crafting and art.

Considering the above-discussed points, it is necessary to feel relaxed and calm for the betterment of your mental health.  Try to be more focused and less anxious.  In this way, you can easily manage your stress during these pandemic times.   

Saying that the Covid-19 times for some people turned into a positive experience as they became more aware of their surroundings.

Neighbors started to talk to each other more and help each other in a difficult situation.

People are connecting on a human level much more than they used to.

We are appreciating more the importance of our friends/neighbors and family.

As a result of less traffic on the roads, the air is cleaner, pollution has fallen, wildlife is showing its face again ( I saw 3 deer in the woods across my street yesterday playing in the snow!)

Take care of yourself every day goes by!

And if you feel that you are struggling, give us a ring!