Tips For Coping With Coronavirus Anxiety

Major epidemics and pandemics took place either faraway or long ago. Extremely few of us experienced one first-hand. Understandably, we are all anxious, confused and bewildered by the outbreak of Covid-19.

The alarming news (rapidly rising numbers of infections and deaths in the US), routine changes and brand-new social norms – not to mention the notorious shortage of toilet tissue – are enough to make anyone nervous. It seems that our world is shrinking. It feels as if we are deprived of more and more… life.

So, let’s face the facts. Coronavirus is scary. It is a real threat. We are all vulnerable. No one – at least at this time – has answers, leave alone solutions.

The best we can do right now is to limit the threat of contagion. By:

• frequent hand-washing,
• eliminating social interactions,
• practicing social distancing
• wearing face masks AND gloves (I admit, I always thought that Asian shoppers picking fruit in a grocery market were weird, I don’t think so anymore.)
• and following the latest government’s guidelines.

So here we are, many of us stuck at home: some of us alone; some with kids that can’t go to school; some imagining symptoms that we don’t yet have; some stir crazy.

We’d like someone trustworthy (in position of authority, like a president, doctor or a grandparent) to reassure us; to tell us that things are not as bad as they seem, that we’ll be OK, that life and the world will go back to normal soon and even: “this too, shall pass”. If you are an adult however, you know that we don’t have a trustworthy “authority” in charge.

Unfortunately, as a Country (I’m referring specifically to preparedness for the Covid-19 virus!) we are nowhere near as great as… Singapore. While our leaders sat on their hands for two precious months, Singapore was preparing for the crisis. They stopped travel in and out of their country. They tested EVERYBODY. Based on results, they sequestered and hospitalized infected individuals. They did – and continue! – measuring everyone’s temperature, continually disinfect all public areas AND individuals in public places. With the radical and less radical measures in place, life, work and business in Singapore – with a few exceptions, most notably public and social gatherings – go on as usual. No “shelter-in-place”, no loss of employment or income. Wouldn’t that be nice?…
We, on the other hand, don’t even have a clue how many of us are infected. Life, work and income for many of us came to a total halt. Fear rules. Life the way it is, is quite scary. I can’t help but notice its weirdness. Here in Los Angeles area we are under “stay-at-home” orders, but are still allowed to go out to buy groceries. My busy neighborhood market is hanging on, but it’s impossible not to notice just how close (3 feet or less!) the cashiers are to countless shoppers, daily. While some shoppers wear face masks, the cashiers don’t…

With all the latest orders, recommendations and relief efforts, we are still exposed to and spreading the Coronavirus! Click To Tweet

Doctors don’t have basic gear, leave alone answers, yet.

Since history tends to repeat itself, here is what we know. Most of us will be OK. Eventually, life will resume and the world will recover.

Meanwhile, here are a few tips for coping with Coronavirus anxiety.

This moment of mandatory “stay-at-home” orders may well be an opportunity for a collective and individual soul searching. During our usual hamster wheel run, we don’t have time to stop and take care of ourselves or think freely. Now that so many are “sheltering-in-place” we have time. Let’s use it! Disconnect from the pandemic-confusion for a little while.

MEDITATE

Get a good guided meditation and take time to meditate. ANY meditation focuses on breath and helps regulate it. The act of meditating will help you realize that you’re well and alive. It will also help calm you down.

PRACTICE SELF-REFLECTION

Ask yourself the questions you don’t have time to ask under normal circumstances. Here are a few to get you started.

• What matters to you most?
• Who matters to you most?
• What’s missing in your life?
• What do you wish for?
• What was your master plan for life and how you can resume working on it?
• How close are you to achieving your goals?
• What should you be focusing on?
• What difference are you making in other people’s lives?
• How you are significant in the larger scheme of things?
• Were you happy before the pandemic hit? If not, why?

STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

“Social distancing” and even social isolation in a time of pandemic is a must. But the distancing applies to physical contact, only. This is a great time to stay in touch with family and friends. We can not only gather (Online!) but focus on neglected relationships.

There is plenty we can do right now to help one another through this difficult time. We can lift each other spirits. We can feed our emotions, if only from a distance. We can be helpful, productive, inventive and above all COMPASSIONATE.

ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER?

Find someone who needs help and meet their need. The person you help will feel better. And so will you. Find safe – healthwise! – volunteer opportunities: if you know how to sew, help sewing face masks, for instance!

We live in a time of a massive change. Change is always challenging and scary. But there are constructive ways to cope with the disruption caused by Covid-19. Another thing, the way we deal with a challenge reveals not only our vulnerabilities but our strengths. In the case of Coronavirus too, we’ll grow and hopefully learn that we are more and better than we thought…

Stay healthy and safe! Take all the recommended precautions. Maintain optimistic outlook and inner balance. Stay close to those you care about, even from a mandatory distance.

Circumstances notwithstanding, THIS is the time to think about making yours and our world healthier, safer and better. We’ll get through it, together!