CoronaVirus Anxiety; Information from a Licensed Therapist in Long Beach.

The CoronaVirus has caused people who have never dealt with anxiety to have anxiety and have caused people who already deal with anxiety to go into anxiety overload.   No matter what you are doing, you are going to see/hear things about this CoronaVirus Pandemic.  I turned on music using my TV app and a big CORONAVIRUS add came on the screen.  So while I was turning on music to relax, it did just the opposite.

You turn on the television: CoronaVirus Pandemic

You check your social media: CoronaVirus Pandemic

You listen to music: CoronaVirus Pandemic

You go to the supermarket: CoronaVirus Pandemic

SUGGESTIONS FOR HANDLING ANXIETY:

(1) Get in a new routine.   We are creatures of habit and as human beings, we do not like change.  This is most likely going to several months and so we need to get into a new routine.  If you are stuck at home, make yourself a schedule.  Maybe you let yourself sleep in, but then get yourself on a schedule at a later time than you normally would.   If you normally wake up at 6am, let yourself sleep in until 8-9am.  Then eat, take a shower, and then take in whatever news you are going to take in so you are prepared and know what is happening in the world.  Then set times of the day where you get work done, have some type of exercise (look on youtube for free exercise videos), do some art, and read that book you have been wanting to read.  Set times for each of these things so that you aren’t wandering around the house thinking about the CoronaVirus Pandemic all day.

(2) Have at least 1 hour per day where you are not taking in CoronaVirus information (this means turning off social media, and any source you would get pop up news from).

(3) Things to remember if you are having anxiety:  Remember that we are staying inside for the sake of the people in our community who could be at a high risk for serious injury.  Even for high risk populations, they are at a 15% chance of death.  Not ideal odds, but remember we are staying inside to avoid those odds.  If you are staying home and not interacting with the world outside, then you have 0% odds (according to WHO/CDC) of getting this virus (I am not a scientist, so I am simply stating what scientists have said).

The idea is that if you go out and see a bunch of people, you may not get it and you may not have symptoms but you could pass it to a friend who has a grandparent who is at high risk.   It is like an STD in that with an STD you are technically “sleeping with everyone your partner has slept with”.  With CoronaVirus Pandemic, you have to assume that even if you are only socializing with one person, if that one person is socializing with a lot of people, then YOU are socializing with a lot of people through them (because they could be giving it to you without knowing they even have it).

(4) Things to do if you are having anxiety:

Call a therapist to schedule an online/phone session so they can help you with your specific symptoms and your specific situation (call us at 562.310.9741 to set up an appointment).

Practice grounding exercises (here is an example).

Practice deep breathing and guided relaxation exercises (here are a few).

Call friends who are supportive.  Talk to them about anything other than the CoronaVirus.