How to Deal With COVID-19 Related Stress and Anxiety

Ever since January 25, 2020, Australia has been going through a seismic shift as the face and psyche of the country was changed forever that day with the first recorded case of COVID-19. The man was from Victoria and it was reported that he reported positive for the virus on returning from Wuhan, China.

Although physicians are trying their best to cure the physical symptoms psychiatrists and psychologists are facing a growing problem as they determine whether the symptoms are affecting the patient’s everyday activities. This is because there has been a clear spike in Coronavirus related anxiety and OCD issues that are impacting the day-to-day life of the afflicted.

So, the question here is – What can you do with your recently surfaced anxiety and OCD symptoms?

Well, this article might answer some of your questions!!

OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Do you ever wonder whether everyone is becoming a little bit obsessive-compulsive? Who Knows? Might Be.

After all excessive hand washing, wearing masks, social distancing is but some of the new precautions that we have introduced to our lives. The new normal as they are saying!!

However, these adjustments can take the form of OCD – like behavior and we surely do not want that right?

Here Are Some Of The Symptoms That Psychologists And Psychiatrists Screen For:

• Disturbing and intrusive thoughts.
• Constant fear of becoming ill.
• Compulsive behaviors including repeated checks and hand-washing to get temporary relief from the distress of the intrusive thought.
• Feelings of loneliness because of self-isolation.
• Unable to work or socialize largely due to avoidance behavior.
• Feeling of being out of control.

Do you feel that you have any of these symptoms?

All of the above-mentioned presentations describe how Australia and the whole world for that matter are thinking and behaving right now.

People are constantly checking their phones for the latest updates regarding the virus. We are constantly washing our hands and avoiding and isolating ourselves from anything non-essential in our lives. We are on a constant binge of consuming thoughts related to COVID-19. This is what is making us feel lonely.

Is COVID-19 Going To Affect The Way Our Brain Functions?

The truth be told, scientists and experts still have not been able to figure out if COVID-19 directly affects our brains by crossing the blood-brain barrier or whether the neurological symptom that appearsis just a secondary effect of the infection. However, there are some reports of neurological symptoms.

Can Our Subconscious Adjust To The Present Predicament That We Are In?

Of course, it can. Human beings have always been able to adapt to their surrounding environment. We continuously learn and grow to come up with solutions to new problems. It is our primitive primary instinctive nature that is ingrained in us which drives us to survive.

Worry is a completely natural and appropriate emotion. It keeps us alive. Without worry, we would not bother to look both ways while crossing the road or follow the regulations that tell us to socially distance ourselves during the pandemic and take all necessary hygiene precautions.

Worry, when it is appropriate, helps us to action that helps us. It assists us to make a choice and we do have control. It is when worry turns into a panic that our choice gets taken away and transforms into symptoms that get out of control.

Following Are 8 Ways To Cope With The Anxiety Of COVID-19:

• Keep Yourself Distracted

This is the best opportunity to make the best use of your time!!

Try engaging in some positive and distracting activities during the pandemic. This is will make the flow of day more steady like a stream and not like a slow and boring drip.

• Time might appear to pass slowly and you divide your day by the gap between newscasts.
• However, do not just sit in front of the TV to gorge on news related to the pandemic.
• Try out a new recipe that you always wanted. Get creative with whatever you have in your pantry.
• Watch that series that you were not able to see and did not have the time to do so.
• Read a good book. Write or paint something.

• Have A Schedule

It can be quite tempting to stay a little bit longer in bed than you usually do, especially as you do not have to show up for work because of the lockdown.

However, it is highly recommended that you get up on time, have your breakfast, lunch, and dinner like you normally do. Get out of your sleeping pajamas and put on your normal day clothes.

Our brains are fine-tuned to work according to a routine. But, if you get stuck to a routine that is unhealthy your brain will get stuck and start to function in a low stimulus environment.

• Go Outside For A Walk

You may suffer from cabin fever if you stay inside for too long at your home. And the worst part is there is no way to gauge this temperature. The most common way it shows itself is by irritability.

How can you avoid cabin fever? Well, why not go outside for a walk in the neighborhood? It is completely safe to do. Our brains need stimulation and it needs to see the sunlight so that it can maintain a healthy circadian rhythm of our sleep-wake cycle.

Taking a walk can also be a healthy distraction. While you walk take notice of the things that have not before as you did not have the time. See the leaves, the birds, etc.

• Talk To People And Stay In Touch

Is it really that hard to understand that the Coronavirus is a biological one and not a computer virus!! Come on!! Our phones are working.

So, reach out to people, hear their voice, and make use of apps like Skype and FaceTime where you can video message.

Technology has come a long way and it allows us to maintain human contact even if we are not able to maintain physical contact with our loved ones.

• Start Exercising

Even if you decide to go for a nice brisk walk or do yoga at your home then that also will be an excellent exercise given the current situation.

You can find plenty of mobile apps and online programs that help people to workout at home. This is a great time to make use of these apps and websites. This will not only keep you physically healthy by preventing you from staying sedentary, but it will also keep you mentally healthy.

Do not forget, exercise helps us to sleep better and also assists to maintain our energy reserves.

• Laugh More Often

Humour is probably the best defense mechanism out there and there are a lot of funny memes and jokes out there that are more than enough to make you laugh your guts out.

Find the funny element in anything that you do!! It is absolutely normal and encouraged.

However, laughter will not minimize the severity of the pandemic as you still need to take the necessary precautions. But, it will allow your brain to take a break from the heaviness of the worry that is constantly lingering in your mind.

• Try Not To Check Your Phone At Regular Intervals

Give your brain a break as mentioned above. And, constantly receiving notifications about the latest news on COVID-19 is surely not one of the ways of doing so.

Stick to a schedule and during this time watch only a certain amount of news and check social media sites for feeds regarding the current situation. Try to discuss as little as possible about the pandemic with others around you.

Setting such boundaries has proven to limit the rise in stress levels, especially in those who are prone to anxiety and panic attacks.

• Spend Time With Your Family

Due to the lockdown, you might find yourself to be a non-voluntary stay-at-home-parent. So, go ahead and spend some quality time with your little ones.

And with the entire ruckus going on there will be times when you wish you had the house to your own. So do not be shy to give yourself a well-deserved “me time”.

By the way, this is also the perfect time to make some lasting memories with your family. Play cards, charades, and sing songs together. Reminisce by looking at old photographs.

In Conclusion…

Yes, we are indeed going through a rough patch. But it is important to remember that we are human beings. And this means that we are capable of shifting our behaviors to suit the current situation and ensure our safety. We are also empathetic beings and that means we feel the importance of protecting others.

We, the human race have gone through a lot of tough times in our collective past. However, the only thing that has remained constant is our drive to survive against all odds. And it is this indomitable spirit of our race that will help us to come out of this tough time wiser and stronger because ultimately we are going to live through it. This is, as they say, is the real result of adversity.