PAIGE COHEN: Perhaps one of the most difficult parts
of this pandemic is the anxiety that we're all
feeling right now-- anxiety around the coronavirus,
our family and loved ones, and even anxiety
around the economy.
That includes what's going to happen with our jobs
if we're lucky enough to have them.
It's important to remember that it is totally normal that we're
feeling this way.
A lot of us are feeling it, and a lot of it
has to do with uncertainty.
We're in uncharted territory--
that plus a loss of control.
I like to wake up in the morning and know my next five steps,
and I think that's true for a lot of people,
but we don't know what's going to happen next.
A lot of the times when we're anxious,
we're going to make decisions based on fear,
and that's going to lead to bad, irrational choices.
So even though it's OK to be anxious,
we do need to find ways to manage it and get
a grasp on it.
Here's how.
First, don't deny how you're feeling.
It's better to just talk about it.
You can even write it down.
This morning I actually wrote a list of all my anxieties
I'm feeling right now.
Putting words to it is not going to make it worse.
It's not going to exacerbate it.
It's actually going to make you feel better
to name your emotions and give you some control over how
you're feeling.
Secondly, and this is the big one,
you're going to want to slow down.
A lot of us are checking the news or social media
obsessively for updates on the coronavirus.
Oh no.
[INAUDIBLE], don't look.
Don't look.
We're loading up on so much toilet paper that--
I mean, my partner and I have stored in our sun room.
So it's just like we're doing all these things because it
makes us feel in control.
But in reality, that's our anxiety kind
of running the show and pushing us to act before we've really
thought our actions through.
It's easy enough to say you should slow down,
but how do you actually do it?
There is one way that works, and it is mindfulness.
[HARP SOUND]
So what does that actually mean?
It's pretty simple.
It just means to be present and in the moment instead
of thinking about the past or the future.
So you can do this in a number of ways.
The first is to refocus your thoughts and feelings.
One thing that I do and that's been effective
is pull out your phone and scroll
through pictures of your loved ones or your pets.
Aw.
Be present thinking loving, kind thoughts
about the people or animals in your life that you care about.
Another way to do this is to anchor your awareness
in an external object.
So you can look out the window at a tree,
and just stare at the tree for 10 seconds.
I know it sounds weird, but you'll
be amazed how much just focusing your energy on something
outside of yourself can anchor you in the present moment.
[HARP SOUND]
Another strategy-- and you've probably
heard this one a lot-- is deep breathing.
When you're nervous, you generally take shallow breaths,
and you're not getting as much oxygen in your lungs.
Deep breathing not only calms you down
but you're getting more oxygen, which
it's kind of like a double win.
[DEEP INHALATION]
Take a deep breath, and notice how
it feels to have your lungs full of air
and how it feels to have your lungs empty of air,
and just be aware of your body.
[DEEP EXHALATION]
Just to be clear, these are nonmedical tips
for how to manage some of the general anxiety
that we're all feeling right now.
But if you find your anxiety starts
to manifest in ways that worry you
or in ways that are interfering with your daily life,
it's probably best to seek the help of a medical professional.
So there you go.
Hopefully some of those strategies
will help you slow down and gain some control over your anxiety.
And also just remember that everyone's
dealing with this situation differently,
so just have patience and compassion
for the people in your lives.