As we continue to cope with the coronavirus, and states around the country begin re-opening, it is normal to have anxiety and/or fear during this time. There continues to be much unknown, such as when a vaccine will be available, when we can return to large gatherings…when life can return to normal.
Max Lucado, in his “Anxious for Nothing” book and video series, talks about the difference between fear and anxiety. Lucado talks about how fear and anxiety are close cousins, but they are not the same. He talks about fear is seeing an actual threat, and anxiety imagining one. The example he uses it that fear is when you see a snake in your yard and run off, whereas anxiety says not to go in your back yard because there COULD BE a snake in the yard. It is important to understand that having fear of the coronavirus is normal, because it is an actual threat. However, living in anxiety about anything and everything related to the coronavirus is preventable. We can control our responses and reactions to the virus, but not how others respond and react to the virus. We can control how we respond to the government’s laws and regulations related to COVID-19 but we can’t control the rules and regulations they will make. Below are some helpful tips in Coping with Anxiety during COVID-19.
- Focus on what you can control and BE PREPARED. Because the coronavirus is a real threat, it is normal to have fear. Combat that fear by following the CDC guidelines…wash hands often, stay 6 feet apart, wear masks, etc. By being prepared, we can stand up to our fear. We can’t control how others will respond to the virus and the precautions they will take, and we can’t live in anxiety (imagined threat) all the time over something we can’t control. Focus on what you can control: yourself and the precautions you are taking.
- Choose not to worry about things that have not happened yet.There is much unknown about how long this pandemic will last and when things will get back to normal. Many parents are wondering if their kids will definitely go back to school in the fall and worry that they may not. Choose not to worry about this. Parents can spend their whole summer worrying about their kids not going back to school, missing quality time and memory making, just for them to go back to school in the fall. Take problems as they come, when they come.
- Take this Process in Pieces. We have all heard the saying, “take it one day at a time”. This could not be more true right now. Allow yourself to only worry about one day, or one week at a time. If your mind starts wandering to several months ahead, rein in your thoughts and only give yourself permission to think about one day or week at a time.
It is not an easy time we are going through right now, and it is important to have a healthy fear of the virus, as it is a real threat. However, there are ways to not let the anxiety (perceived threats) surrounding the virus make us miserable during this time. As Max Lucado says in “Anxious for Nothing”, “The pressure of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional”.
-Cameron