How to deal with (corona) anxiety

We live in interesting times, with corona virus spreading fast and putting many of us in a state of anxiety and paralysis. You may stay at home because you're scare of getting infected, or may already display symptoms and need to self-isolate. Or maybe you can't stay home because you have to continue to go to work every day, just waiting to come home with a cough one of these days.

Although anxiety about covid-19 seems to be all around us (and certainly all over the internet), we don't have to let it control our lives. Certainly, we need to be careful and take precautions. Better to stay put than to take a risk of infecting yourself or others who might be much more vulnerable than you! In any case, you are not in this alone. Here are some top tips of how to tare care of yourself when experiencing anxiety (be it because of the virus or any other reason).

1 - First of all, get as much fresh air and sunshine as you can. I know that you might not be able to leave the house. If that's the case, sit by the window and open it a little bit. Just getting some sun on your face and feeling a nice breeze of fresh air can make you feel calmer and more relaxed. Getting some sun, even if you're inside all day, will also help you stay more positive and reduce any anxiety or depressive feelings you might have due to being alone all day.

2 - Secondly, don't forget that you don't have to be alone just because you can't physically meet up with anyone. Luckily, we do live in the 21st century and we all have internet. So, call your friends and family and have a nice chat. You can also play games together online or just watch netflix while facetiming. Just knowing that they're there for you and that you can stay connected will lift your mood and take away some of that negative energy and fear.

3 - Remember that if you are young and healthy, you're likely to be okay. I'm not saying that you should ignore the risk of being infected or that symptoms can worsen. I just want you to remember that most people recover perfectly fine. Knowing that you will probably be okay while taking good care of yourself can make you feel calmer and less scared. So wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, through out used tissues, stay inside, and drink some tea. It will pass!

4 - If your friends are worried, remind them that we are all in this together. Knowing that we all have to stick together can make them feel less isolated and safer, even if they have to stay inside by themselves. Check up on them regularly and send them pictures of cute puppies, your silly face, or their favourite flowers to lighten the mood.

5 - Finally, take things slowly. We are experiencing wild times but you can't do anything about it despite making sure you are safe and you're not infecting anyone else. So remember it's okay to watch cat videos all morning. It's okay to skype your mum for two hours straight. It's okay to browse facebook and eat biscuits. It's okay to sleep in and not get as much done as you usually would. It's okay to relax. Knowing that you are allowed to take things slowly can make you feel less pressured and less anxious. If you feel worry and anxiety creeping up on you, do any of the things above :) This is your time to take care of yourself!