Coronavirus, COVID-19, safety, security, lockdown, quarantine, masks, cover-up, stay-in, vaccine, etc are some of the words that have become very common now-a-days. No one would have even thought about it. Just 6 months ago, our lives were as they were but then it started to change. And at an alarming pace as this virus is infecting more and more people, we now have more than half of the world’s population under lockdown. It may be possible that even you, reading this article, are sitting in your bed while sipping your coffee. So when such big changes are made, a lot of lives get affected by it. And when I say, a lot, it means a lot and very severely. People have started suffering from stress, tensions, worries. They are depressed about their survival, next meal, their income and the survival of their loved ones. So as you can see, this battle is not just with the virus but also with self and self-thoughts. So to help you out. Here are 10 tips that I am going to share with you so that you can deal with coronavirus anxiety. Have a look.
Dealing with Coronavirus Anxiety
Now dealing with something you can’t see and that too without any help can be a bit tough. But before you start, you need to learn and understand something.
There are three mental zones in which you will find yourself throughout this lockdown. Namely: fear zone learning zone growth zone.
Fear zone is where most of the people are and Growth zone is what we intend to be.
Fear zone
How to know that you are in a panic zone?
You are buying and stocking stuff that you don’t need or maybe need it like 5 months later. Being prepared is good and all great but would you have stocked it if the virus wasn’t there? Ask yourself. If you were part of the news that people in the US are stocking up on toilet paper, or people in Russia stocking on buckwheat, then you can identify yourself as being in the Fear zone. And it’s not just stocking up, if you are scared of or believe in every news article that you see even from unknown sources like social media, then you are in a Deep fear zone. So my first tip would be to
Stop yourself in the tracks
“Bran thought about it. ‘Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?’
‘That is the only time a man can be brave,’ his father told him.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
Stop yourself from reading and believing theories coming up from unknown and unreliable sources. Stop believing in the myths and fake news. They will only scare you unnecessarily and will fill your thoughts with information which is made up.
It’s not only the Virus that spreads
Yes, you read it right. Fear spreads faster than the virus. And if you are scared, worrying and tense, even while being locked up in the house. You are not doing anything good for yourself and not for others too. And you can spread it knowingly and unknowingly. If you are severely anxious then it will be evident from your actions and words which can ignite fear in people around you too. So stop.
Learning zone
So when is one in the learning zone? If you, after reading about fear zone, thought that it is right and one should not fear unnecessarily, then congrats, you just entered the Learning zone. Learning zone starts from acceptance. It is the step between Fear and Growth. And remember that it can be really hard to maintain this zone and not fall back to the Fear zone.
“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” ―Abigail Adams.
Relax and let go
Not the hope, don’t let go of the hope. But let go of your worries they are the unnecessary burden you are slowing yourself with. You are now in the learning zone and here it is necessary for you to move on and look for alternatives. Alternatives that will help you to grow and be more capable than you are now. Meditation will help you to relax and engaging in new hobbies is really recommended. Go ahead and discover new shores.
Share and Empower
It is not only you who need support but in this global pandemic, we all are together. And all the support one can get is better than nothing. So whenever you talk with your friends, family, colleagues, etc talk about positive news and developments. How we are taking new initiatives to fight this battle and how people are coming together to help each other. If you find someone in need of an ear. Go ahead and lend him one. Listen to his worries, maybe you have a possible solution or maybe you can help. Extending arms in the time of need is a beautiful aspect of humanity. But be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after that.
Growth zone
How to know if you are already in the Growth zone?
You have stopped worrying and stressing over and over again. You have also stopped spreading fear in yourself and your surroundings. You have also found new directions like hobbies and habits to build into and have started walking in those directions. You have also helped others or are in the process of doing so. Growth comes when you not only stop yourself in wrong tracks but also start walking in the right direction. If you are in this phase then it also means that you have realized what you were doing so far and what is the right choice.
“The great solution to all human problems is individual inner transformation.” —Vernon Howard
Start to walk the path you chose
So now you know what to do. You have decided what activities you want to engage your time and resources in. It can be anything from learning to cook to sketching to impress your crush. Your goal should be to build yourself by the end of this quarantine. And if you still feel like you have more time, then pick up multiple activities. In the age of digital transformation you can do loads. You can start your own youtube channel, create content, become an influencer, etc.
So these were some of the tips to deal with Coronavirus anxiety that I wanted to share with you. You can do lots but first you need to learn to stop. If your thoughts are not focussed then you may end up making some rash decisions. So stay in, stay safe and enjoy your time to the fullest.
Hope it helps!
Thanks for reading!