COVID-19 is radically changing our lifestyle. In an uncertain scenario, experiencing anxiety is normal. However, it is necessary to know how to manage anxiety to give our best and overcome this dramatic emergency.
Psychology knows a phenomenon called social contagion very well. These are situations in which emotions spread to create strong stress, worries, and even panic. Coronavirus anxiety is affecting everyone and it is necessary to contain its effects in order to correctly manage the situation we are experiencing.
Experiencing strong panic sensations changes our lifestyle. The Coronavirus pandemic will surely have effects on the economy, but the worst part is that it makes us behave irrationally. For example, a large part of the population stormed supermarkets and made stocks of toilet paper for months. Does this behavior make sense? Apparently not.
We have to be clear. Anxiety is part of us and as such has a purpose and importance. Thanks to it, in fact, we warn and react to dangers by safeguarding our survival.
In contexts of uncertainty and concern, such as the current moment we are facing, it is very important to keep anxiety under control. This emotion must be our ally and not the cause of further concerns that make us adopt illogical and irrational behaviors.
In the current scenario, fear can be a second virus as dangerous as COVID-19. The reason? If we get caught up in fear, our psychological distress will increase and we will show the worst of us. This is definitely not the time to be afraid. These days we have to bring out the best in us and resort to our mental strength.
Coronavirus anxiety - what can we do?
1. Avoid information poisoning
Information overload must be avoided. The World Health Organization has recognized that the current crisis is causing enormous stress to the population. In order to reduce the negative impact of stress, we must avoid exposing ourselves 24 hours a day to the news and data that are continuously provided to us.
We must be informed, but without being obsessed with the news. Constantly checking the numbers, the rate of infection, new cases, new deaths do nothing but increase anxiety from Coronavirus.
2. To deal with negative thoughts one must be rational
Being afraid is logical. However, this fear must be rational. For example:
I'm afraid of being infected. What should I do?.
Inform health professionals and take all necessary precautions.
I am afraid that my father or grandfather will get sick, what can I do ?. Protect them by following all the necessary protocols.
Fear must be a mechanism that stimulates us to take useful measures to act. We must, therefore, keep under control especially negative thoughts that increase panic.
If we are attacked by ideas like we will all die or there is no solution, we must try to be rational.
How?
Seeking information from reliable sources. For example, looking at the statistical data that comes from China: the mortality rate is 2.3%.
3. In the face of uncertainty, we try to keep our daily routines as far as possible
Coronavirus anxiety is fueled by uncertainty. The truth is that we are facing a new situation that we have never experienced before. It is a new virus and there is still no vaccine.
In addition, we do not know how long the restrictive measures and the quarantine period will last. All this leads us to live a state of uncertainty that not everyone knows how to manage.
What can we do?
It is better to focus on the present, on the here and now. In these cases, the idea is to establish a routine to be followed that forces us to focus on the present moment.
Daily goals
Nobody could predict the current situation, but we have to live it and face it. However, it may take several weeks to smooth the contagion curve.
Until that day, two elements that will help us reduce the weight of Coronavirus anxiety. The first is to set daily goals. The second stay in touch with the people we love.
Goals must be both short and long term. Every day when we get up, it is advisable to set a short-term goal: read a book, do something new with your partner or children, clean the house, write, paint, etc. Long-term goals, on the other hand, give us hope and remind us that there is a future that awaits us.
It is equally essential to maintain contact with the people we care about. Now more than ever WhatsApp and video calls allow us to keep in touch with family and friends. We use technologies and we don't give up hope. Our attitude can help us to better overcome this difficult moment.
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