What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is often triggered during stressful or unfamiliar situations. Anxious feelings can be triggered from a variety of circumstances depending on the person. You may feel anxiety from attending an event, giving a speech, or even a certain work task. Occasional anxiety is completely normal and isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Anxious feelings can help alert you to danger and also make you more alert in important situations.
Dealing with COVID-19 anxiety
The global pandemic is giving many people additional anxiety. Health and financial concerns can feel overwhelming as can dealing with isolation and loneliness. It’s difficult to socially distance for an extended period of time, and those feelings of loneliness can enhance stress and anxiety. The stress you’re experiencing from COVID might be heightening your anxiety by affecting other parts of your life. For instance, your sleeping patterns might be affected right now, you may be getting less sleep, and pre-existing mental or physical health conditions may become worse.
It can be incredibly helpful to simply acknowledge the additional stress and anxiety you’re currently experiencing. By acknowledging your stress and anxiety, you can start managing your mental health during these uncertain times. Below are a few suggestions to help you cope with your COVID-19 anxiety.
Get plenty of sleep
If you’re experiencing more anxiety than normal, it’s always a good idea to fall back on health basics. Mainly, getting enough sleep every night. Working from home or limited work hours have likely thrown off your daily schedule. Reset your morning and night routine so you’re getting to bed at a decent hour. A lack of sleep can not only impact your ability to handle additional stress and anxiety, but it can also be detrimental to your health.
Stay active
Gyms are closed right now but you still need to find ways to stay active. Incorporate your activity of choice into your daily schedule to stretch your legs and get your heart rate up a little bit. A few activity ideas include a short walk around the block, a HIIT workout video, jump rope, hiking, or riding a bike. Find something you enjoy doing that gets you out of your office chair and moving your body.
Eat healthy
When you’re feeling anxious, you may lean more heavily on comfort food. Instead of the recommended fruits and vegetables, you’re eating frozen pizza, ready-made meals, and boxes of macaroni every day. Comfort foods can make you feel less stressed because they’re often easy to make, they taste great, and they’re very filling. The problem is too many days of these foods can start adding on pounds and impact your health. You don’t have to eat a salad every day if you don’t want to, but throwing in the occasional veggie-friendly or homemade dish can do a lot for your body and overall wellbeing.
The difference between feeling anxious and anxiety disorders
It’s already been said, but it bears stating again - anxiety is a normal part of life. Anxiety comes and goes as situations arise but in most cases it doesn’t interfere too terribly with your life. If you struggle with an anxiety disorder, on the other hand, you might feel fear on a regular basis and it could even be debilitating. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America. More than 18 percent of the U.S. population are affected by anxiety disorders every year. Anxiety disorders take a number of forms from panic attacks and phobias to social anxiety and obsessive-compulsiveness.
An anxiety attack typically involves overwhelming apprehension and distress. It can come on slowly as a stress-inducing situation gets closer. A few symptoms of an anxiety attack include:
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Fear
Faintness or dizziness
Numbness
There are several other anxiety attack symptoms, but the above give you an idea of what to look out for. Anxiety disorders can be debilitating if they’re not addressed. For some people, simple lifestyle changes can be enough to overcome anxiety disorders. In other cases, medication may be needed to help the condition. Meeting with a therapist can help you understand the underlying cause of your anxiety disorder as well as develop coping mechanisms for overcoming and managing your apprehension.
Less than 40 percent of people who suffer from an anxiety disorder seek treatment even though it’s highly treatable. If you have an anxiety disorder, you don’t have to handle your stress and apprehension alone. Visit our anxiety treatment page to find out more about managing and overcoming your anxiety. Learn how to reduce your anxiety and further understand how your mind works so you can start leading a less anxious life.
