How to cope up with mental anxiety about COVID?

The second wave of COVID-19 has hit us unimaginably harder than before. Grim news, alarming information and incessant inflow of precautionary measures to be taken are pushing our psychological state into a very worrisome mode. No conversation, be it personal or professional, is free of discussions about coronavirus. During such times, mental toughness is one of key ways to help us keep going. This will not only make you feel better but also the ones around you. Look at these few contributory steps that can lead you to you cope up better with mental anxiety arising out of COVID:

Take breaks from consuming news about COVID

While it is good to stay informed about the latest developments and happenings regarding the pandemic, avoid a continued influx. Constrain yourself from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media to a limited number of times. Don’t hesitate to mute keywords or people who are exacerbating your anxiety. And log off if it’s making you feel worse.In this way, your mental focus will shift to other issues requiring attention. Another important aspect here is to filter out the sources of information that you trust. Refrain from illegit accounts that misguide by distributing ill-founded facts and figures. Do your best to verify information before passing it on.

Take good care of your body

In these fear-ridden times, take good care of your body as much as possible. Indulge in simple breathing exercises like anulom vilom or just take deep breaths for improved oxygenation of your lungs. Your immunity is an outcome of what you eat. Try to have healthy foods and well-balanced meals. Exercise! There is no alternative to exercising. As you are spending days together at home, set time for working out regularly to open up the joints make up for the reduced mobility. Take up stay at home workouts and ensure that you do them. Encourage people around you to do the same. Get ample sleep too. It would be best to lower down or completely get rid of excessive alcohol, tobacco and substance use. Try getting vaccinated as soon as possible in accordance with the availability and continue with routine preventive measures as recommended by your healthcare provider.

Distract to attract (positivity)

Probably the most common advice that’s given to us even at the slightest discomfort that comes our way - pick up an activity that interests you outside work boundaries. Nonetheless worthwhile! Bake, read, listen to music, play an instrument, sort some old albums, watch an old movie and so on so forth. Treat your mind with something refreshing. With an abundance of training sessions available on the internet for anything and everything, soak it. Master a skill that you’ve waited too long for now. 

Revive connections

Connect with some old friends and talk to them. Revisit some memories that you made with them. Trying to restrict the flow of conversation towards topics related to COVID. Check up on them and see if they have been laden with some stressful thoughts. 

Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations

While social distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.

Helping Others Cope

Taking care of yourself can better equip you to take care of others. During times of social distancing, it is especially important to stay connected with your friends and family. Helping others cope with stress through phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely or isolated. If you or anyone around you find themselves locked in a crisis, get immediate help:

Know that, it is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic. But also remember that these feelings need to be dealt with intelligently. Do it, for yourself and your dear ones. 

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html