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Hi! Tanya here. Davida is away (I know…I know…we’ll chat about that another time) but in a brief chat with Davida over Slack I asked if I could share some thoughts as we all learn to process our new normal. My anxiety has reached new heights in this crazy time and I get the sense I’m not alone in this. Last Friday I hit my peak and knew I had to change some things in my life. It hasn’t been an easy process and while things certainly haven’t changed, my reactions and way of processing information has. So if you’re struggling with anxiety through this pandemic, I’ve rounded up a couple ways I’ve been managing my anxiety that can hopefully be helpful to you.
Stop looking at the news. I fully understand how serious and scary the world is right now, I don’t need every media source reminding me. I am choosing to stay home and am following social distancing guidelines. Do I need to know how rapidly this is changing? How many sports are calling off their season? How long this is going to last? No. A friend sent me this post that I resonated so strongly with. It gave me permission to stop consuming. I realized that it is not good for my mental health to know all of the nitty gritty details. So I stopped looked at news sites, watching the news on TV and basically any form of social media. This has helped tremendously.
Talk to your friends and family. The only thing that makes anxiety worse is when you let it consume your mind and body without letting it out. Talk to your people! Share your heart with those that love and understand you and get your feelings off your chest. If you don’t have a safe person to talk to, see if you can talk to a therapist virtually. If you can’t find a therapist, journal it all out.
Cut back on coffee. When other hard life events have happened I’ve noticed that coffee/caffeine has affected me differently than it typically does. This occasion is no different. Even with my usual one cup of coffee, my mind was spinning out of control and I fought to reign it in. While I love the taste and ritual of coffee, I’ve completely cut it out since that Friday and have been feeling so much better.
Have a mantra. This was a new one for me but actually really helped. When my thoughts were out of control and anxiety crept in at any moment, I made a mantra to re-center myself. It’s cheesy but I’ll share it. “I am healthy. I am safe. I am strong. I am loved.” That’s it! Now when I wake up in the middle of the night in a panic or have an anxious thought pop up, I say this mantra to myself and I actually believe it.
Self-care, self-care, self-care. Now more than ever, self-care is important. I have a whole line-up of things I like to incorporate like diffusing essential oils, therapeutic showers, face masks, light stretching… the works. No shame in my self-care game!
Above all else, give yourself grace. This is new territory for us all. We’re all navigating this the best we can. Listen to your body do what you need. Sending love!
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This advice is so great, especially right now where it is so important to look after ourselves and are mental well-being! I have recently shared a blog about staying motivated and positive during lockdown at http://www.own-your-health.co.uk I would love to hear what you think about it!
Thanks for this, Tanya! I’m doing many of the same things right now. And my mantra is oddly similar: “May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I be safe. May I be at peace/ease.”
I have decided that the news is simply to panic-provoking for me as well, so it’s a no go.
Wishing you calm during this time. xx