How to Survive Coronavirus Anxiety
So far 2020 is proving to be… stressful. Coronavirus coverage is inescapable. Though we’re not going to fire death toll figures or fatality rates at you it’s safe to say that most mainstream media are, just for a change, pouring flammable headlines all over this anxiety fire. Between the never-ending workplace “banter” and sudden bog-roll buying mania (which seems to be more contagious than the virus itself), it’s hard not to feel panicky about being in the outside world.
If you’re finding yourself more than a little anxious about either the virus, or the knock-on effects of it, here are a few ways to limit the amount of space it takes up in your head.
Limit your news intake. This sounds obvious, yet it’s harder to manage than you think. Knowledge is power, but being over-informed about something you have no power to change is a recipe for distress. You can be aware of the situation in general without reading every fear-mongering headline – try opting out of Instagram for a few weeks and walk away from flippant conversations in the office.
Don’t stockpile. Having enough disposable income to buy substantial amounts of food and hygiene products in advance is a privilege which lots of people don’t have. Anyone living payslip to payslip will be relying on the availability of groceries and cleaning products, so if you’ve bought the lot, they’ll have to make do without. In the fortunate position to have a little extra? Share your bounty with the vulnerable people you know.
Check in with people. If you know anyone who’s self-isolating, they’re probably more at risk of cabin fever than Covid-19, so reach out to see how they’re doing. It might also help to speak to other worriers for a bit of solidarity. There are a lot of resources you can access relatively quickly if you’re really struggling to feel calm about things, including support groups and low cost counselling initiatives from organisations like MindWell.
Take (reasonable) hygiene measures. One of the most concerning aspects of the shitstorm of Coronavirus coverage has been the revelation that washing your hands is a ground-breaking preventative measure?! Aside from feeling a tad smug that there are reportedly queues for the men’s loo for the first time in history (imagine), there are a few small things you can do to reduce risk – but they’re all common sense, so we won’t patronise you.
Side note: if you wash your hands or use hand sanitiser very often, carry a soothing hand cream to stop them from getting cracked and sore.
Stick to a routine. This one could be tricky, as it depends slightly on guidance from Public Health England, but under the current advice, there’s no need to refrain from doing your everyday activities - disrupting this sense of normality might cause you to feel uneasy. Even if you’re working from home, carrying on in a “business as usual” frame of mind can help to keep an anxious brain occupied. Break up your day with a comforting meal and a walk with a podcast.
Things feel a bit bonkers out there at the moment, but they won’t get worse if you forget to worry for a little while. Speak to your favourite people, have some compassion for yourself and hang in there.
Title image sourced here.
