Coronavirus Anxiety
The Coronavirus has left many of us with feeling of uncertainty. Who will catch it? How is it spreading so quickly? How will this affect my household? My finances? My health?
There is a collectively or shared feeling of fear and uncertainty currently. Stress weakens our immune response, thereby increasing our risks of becoming ill.
There are ways to remain calm during this time of collective anxiety.
Unplug
Stay informed through trusted sources. It's important to be in the know. "There's a point where, information gathering could become problematic," says Stewart Shankman, a psychologist at Northwestern University who studies anxiety. "There's no way to reduce your risk to zero," Shankman says. You could spend all day and night reading headlines, news alerts or tweets but this "does not change your risk of getting coronavirus."
Exercise, eat well and get some good sleep!
There's lots of evidence that daily exercise can help promote feelings of well-being and boost your immunity. Going for a 20 min walk lower risk for acute and chronic illness.
What you eat can help improve your outlook. "Eating sugar and ultra-processed food increases inflammation and suppresses immune function," says Mark Hyman, a physician at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine
While there's still a lot to learn about the new coronavirus, prior research has shown that well-rested people are better at fending off viruses.
Mindfulness
Meditation can put us in touch with our stress and anxiety, and that's why it can be so helpful. Bring your attention to the present moment. Focus on the breath. Bring your attention to your body. When you allow yourself to feel and acknowledge your worries, irritations, difficult thoughts and emotions, this helps them dissipate.
Yoga
In times of high stress and anxiety, our bodies tend to constrict. When we practice yoga, we lower our physical tension. Yoga can help release the grip that anxiety can have on us. Yoga interrupts worry cycles and demonstrates self-compassion.
Be Adaptive
Be prepared for disruptions such as school closings. Create contingency plans for these disruptions. Identify trusted sources of information you can turn to in the event of an outbreak. It might be difficult to work with your children at home, planning will allow for less disruptions thru out the day.
Wash your hands!! Dab, head nod to acknowledge others
When an infectious disease hits a community, there's only so much anyone can do. You can't sterilize your entire environment. But taking a few preventative actions will help reduce your risk and hopefully relieve your anxiety.