How to Cope If You Are Feeling Anxious

It’s perfectly normal to feel anxiety when there is a health crisis, like COVID-19.

Here are some insights that can help you to cope with the anxiety surrounding COVID-19
and stay healthy – physically and emotionally.

1. Take a Break from the News: Overconsumption of media is not healthy for you and will only lead to more anxiety/fear. It is not necessary or appropriate for you to be worrying about COVID-19 constantly. If you need updates, check out government resources, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for the most accurate and succinct updates. Have faith and trust in knowing that public health officials are working diligently to better understand the disease and prevent an epidemic. Also, local leaders here at Lakeland Regional Health and throughout our county are staying briefed daily on how it may impact our community and keeping us prepared.
2. We Know how it spreads, so take reasonable precautions: Wash your hands! It is the single most important thing we can do to stay healthy. We hear it every day but COVID-19 spreads just like the flu, through contact with infected droplets in the air and surfaces. People can only get COVID-19 from being in close proximity to people infected, so if you are sick, stay home and avoid being in close contact with others who are sick. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer when out and about. Also do everything you can this time of year to keep a healthy immune system! Plenty of rest, fluids, healthy nutrition, and activity go a long way to keeping one healthy.
3. Reflect on times in the past you have successfully managed challenging life circumstances. Life can be very stressful and most people with the support of those around them are resilient and able to survive and thrive. Think back on times of high stress before and what has helped you cope. Coping skills that often help with anxiety are: writing down your thoughts, focused deep breathing, questioning your own thought pattern, 15 minutes of mindful meditation or exercise like yoga. Foster connections with those in your support network that help keep you grounded and bring you joy. Talking it out often is a good way to undo irrational fears in the moment.

“Remember, outbreaks like this do occur from time to time throughout the world. It’s normal. While they can be very scary-especially if you live in a highly infected area-the actual chances of you becoming infected are very small if you take common-sense precautions.” (http://psychcentral.com/blog/coronavirus-anxiety-4-ways-to-cope-with-fear/)

How to Cope If You Are Feeling Anxious

It’s perfectly normal to feel anxiety when there is a health crisis, like COVID-19.

Prepared by the Lakeland Regional Health Behavioral Health Team

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