Coronavirus Anxiety In Virginia

By Beverley Boothe, MSW, LCSW

Life Enrichment Counseling Center, Inc.

. https://lifeenrichmentcounseling.com

More Mental Health Articles

Coronavirus Anxiety In Virginia

Are you one of many in Virginia who has been experiencing coronavirus anxiety in the last few weeks? Here are some of the signs:

• Feeling tightness in your muscles
• Having difficulty breathing
• Feeling jittery and nervous
• Experiencing excessive worry about what you hear on the news
• Having heart palpitations
• Finding it difficult to concentrate
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep

If you are experiencing some or most of these symptoms, you may be experiencing coronavirus anxiety. Anxiety is a typical response to stressful life events. In the last few weeks, our world has changed due to COVID-19. We have had to stay at home, maintain physical distance from many of our friends or family members, lost jobs, or lost loved ones to this horrific disease. These changes are contributing to a rise in anxiety. Anxiety can keep us from carrying on with life normally.

How do we move forward with living in peace amid this uncertainty? One way is to remind ourselves that this virus will not last forever. One day there will be a resolution. We have to find hope in the midst of hopelessness. We have to find ways to adapt to this daily-changing environment. We also have to remind ourselves that we are resilient and will overcome the obstacles we face. How do we reduce feelings of anxiety?

Here Are 13 Things You Can Do To Reduce Coronavirus Anxiety

1. Make a schedule for yourself and your children
2. Take a short nap throughout the day
3. Go to bed at the same time each day
4. Take a walk
5. Eat healthy meals
6. Take time to pray or meditate
7. Connect with friends on social media
8. Limit social media if you are on it for long periods
9. Catchup on projects that you haven’t had time to do
10. Call a family member or friends you haven’t called in a while
11. Plan creative dates with your spouse at home
12. Spend time playing with your children
13. Connect with a psychotherapist online to reduce your anxiety

If you need counseling for coronavirus anxiety, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Taking care of yourself and your loved ones will help you not only cope but to thrive during this season. We have expanded our online/telehealth counseling sessions to support adolescents, adults, and families from the comfort of their homes.

We are forming groups for college students experiencing anxiety and other stress-related issues. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue serving families in our community. Help is just a step away.