COVID-Related Anxiety and Stress is Real! Here’s How You Can Deal with It

Do you find yourself becoming agitated each time you hear some news about the novel coronavirus? Is the pandemic making you feel demotivated (especially when you come across posts and photos of friends who seem to be thriving during this time)?

[bg_collapse expand_text=”Continue Reading” icon=”arrow” color=”white” view=”button-blue”]

If you’ve been feeling a lot more stressed off late, you’re not alone. COVID-19 is raging across the country and upending just about everything. In this process, it’s also caused some serious mental health issues for many people.

A recent report by the CDC has stated that depression and anxiety are on the rise in the country – this is certainly a cause for concern. If you’ve been feeling even a little off-your-game, it’s important that you don’t ignore this. Here’s what you can do to tackle the way you feel head-on.

Safety

The first thing you need to do is ensure you and your loved ones are physically safe. Just in case a COVID outbreak was to occur in your area, it’s a good idea to stock up on at least 2 months’ worth of food, medications, and cleaning supplies. But, avoid emptying out the shelves of your local grocery store. Instead, try to buy in bulk from online vendors, who are likely to have much larger stocks of products.

Connect with others

Isolation and loneliness can worsen COVID-related stress and anxiety. That’s why it’s important to connect with your community, and your friends and family in particular. This would require you to do a few things:

  • Learn how to interact in a healthy manner with those who live with you. Work out any issues that may arise.
  • If you have kids, figure out how to deal with their emotions. Keep in mind that they are also likely to be on the edge from being cooped up inside the house.
  • Be more understanding when dealing with anyone over the age of 60.
  • Figure out ways to stay connected with friends and co-workers, without meeting them – maybe catch up with them virtually a few times every week.

Self-esteem

Make sure to also secure your self-confidence by making plans for how you can best live your life during, and even after, the pandemic. For instance, being at home could give you the time to pick up new skills.

[/bg_collapse]