Over the past few weeks, the coronavirus pandemic has sent many parts of the world into lockdown, causing anxiety and panic across the globe. For those who already suffer with mental issues, this widespread fear and panic will be further magnified.

As someone who experiences health anxiety, hearing about the extent of the coronavirus and the fatalities it has caused has significantly increased my anxiety. It has made me obsess over how I’m feeling, paranoid about the tiniest of changes.

However, I have found ways to minimise my anxiety so that I can remain rational and calm in the face of everything going on. In this post, I’ll be sharing the ways that I’ve been using to protect my mental health over the last few weeks, and how you can too.

Surround Yourself With Positive People

Since the beginning of the outbreak, most people I have encountered only want to talk about coronavirus and by-the-minute updates of what’s happening. While it’s inevitable that people will want to talk about it, if doing so makes you feel even more anxious and is detrimental to your mental health, feel free to limit the time you spend talking to such people. Instead, surround yourself with people who you know will bring you comfort and positivity, and won’t only want to talk about coronavirus.

Be Cautious Consuming Media

Just like people want to talk only about coronavirus, as will media outlets, including social media. Of course, keeping up to date with what’s going on is essential, be picky about where you’re getting information from. Take advice from trusted medical sources, and not things you see on your Twitter feed. If you find watching the news or listening to the radio more upsetting than informative, you are allowed to switch it over or off. Consider taking a partial or full social media detox; delete certain apps that are causing you anxiety and unfollow people who are being particularly negative or irrational.

Create Healthy Distractions

To distract yourself from all of the negativity going on in the world, think of ideas of things you would enjoy doing that would lift your mood. These could be recreational activities such as watching a new TV show or movie, playing board games or reading books. Or perhaps you fancy starting a new hobby or skill, such as learning a new language, cooking new meals or decluttering your home. Take this time to focus on your own self development – practice new relaxation techniques, begin meditating or do at-home workouts.

Prioritise Your Self Care

There is no better time to begin practicing self care, or deepen your existing practice. Take time out to nourish your mind, body and soul in whichever way suits you best. This could mean treating yourself to an at-home spa night where you run yourself a bubble bath, lights candles and put on a face mask. If you like working out, try new workouts that you can do at-home or begin a yoga challenge on YouTube. Looking after yourself will make you feel a little more in control, despite everything going on.

Tap Into Your Coping Skills

Everyone has their own preferred ways of coping with stress and anxiety, and you can use these techniques when facing coronavirus anxiety. You might find it useful to practice some breathing techniques to calm your mind and body, or follow guided mindfulness meditations on apps or Youtube. You could try EFT tapping out, which calms the body using pressure points. Journalling and taking part in a creative activity may help too, so you could invest in a mindfulness colouring book or a new pretty notebook.

Connect With Family And Friends Via Technology

While people enter into a period of isolation, the thought of not seeing or talking to your loved ones is a huge trigger for stress, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. However, we live in a world where we can easily connect with people pretty much anywhere, anytime. Keep in contact with loved ones through texts, phone calls, social media and achieve near face-to-face contact via Skype and FaceTime. While not exactly the same, it’ll help you feel a little less far away from them.

Go Easy On Yourself

My last tip is, in my eyes, the most important. Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself for feeling overwhelmed, anxious and fearful. Remind yourself that you are allowed to feel these feelings, and that they are universal. You are not weak or being overly paranoid – you are feeling a very natural response to crisis. And know, that this too shall pass.

Thank you so much for reading and stay safe,

Love,

Natalie

xxx