Tools to calm our coronavirus anxiety
As we slowly make our way through the COVID-19 pandemic, we also face another condition that acts like a virus: anxiety. Not one of us is a stranger to the panic and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as we collectively struggle with seemingly unanswerable questions like: How long will this last? Will my family be safe? How do I work and take care of my children at the same time? Will the economy survive this?
By now, we’re all likely well versed in how to prevent the spread of COVID-19: routinely washing our hands with soap and water, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, staying home when possible, avoiding close contact with others and wearing cloth masks when going out in public. But are we as familiar with ways to stop the spread of anxiety? Our coping mechanisms for dealing with the unknown can be very different, depending on our personal backgrounds, beliefs and community. Techniques that help some may not work as well for others. We’ve put together a list of tools and resources to help support you in managing your anxiety – we hope you find at least some of them helpful!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Coping with Stress site is full of practical tools and resources for different groups, like parents, people who are at high risk, and essential workers.
Meditation and mindfulness have a proven track record for relieving anxiety and even strengthening our immune systems.[1] Here are some mindfulness tools for you to explore:
Calm, a meditation and relaxation aid, has created a library of mindfulness tools including soothing meditations, sleep stories for both adults and kids, movement exercises, journals and music. All of the resources on this page are free to use and share.
Headspace, a meditation app, offers meditations and resources to help guide you through the current pandemic, changes to your work life, and more.
Judson Brewer, an addiction psychiatrist and internationally known expert in mindfulness training for treating addictions, has been posting daily short videos about how to stay mentally healthy, calm and connected during these difficult times.
[1]How Mindfulness Training Can Boost Your Immune System. Cleveland Clinic.