Anxiety/Medicare/HIPAA
How to Cope with the Anxieties of Coronavirus
During the coronavirus outbreak, a lot of us are dealing with build-up anxiety, stress, and fear, which affects every single aspect of our lives. It seems that it is especially hard for us to work through these feelings of ours when we have been instructed to stay at home as much as possible to prevent this virus from spreading even further.
That is why, today, we are coming to you with some scientifically-proven coping techniques that are meant to help you improve your mental health during this time period, but also in the future, whenever you feel that you may need them. And you can practice all of them while staying safe and sound at home throughout this crisis.
What do you need to know about the new COVID-19?
It was 1937 that we first managed to isolate the virus that was later called coronavirus. Today, we know that there were different types of this virus, affecting primarily animals, but then also humans. As of early December, we are facing a new type of coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, which is the case of a disease called COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019.
The COVID-19 might not be as scary as it is if it did not put an end to over 8,000 lives. Its symptoms – dry cough, high fever, and fatigue, do not seem as threatening as they are, which is the reason why it took so long for people to take this new virus and disease seriously and go into self-isolation.
But there is some light in the whole situation. As of March 17, 2020, the testing for the first-ever SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has started after the vaccine has been introduced by the Massachusetts-based biotechnology company called Moderna Inc.
Coronavirus coping techniques that will help you manage your anxiety
However, until we get some good news that a treatment has been found, or the vaccine is working, we are left to deal with anxiety, fear, stress, and sadness, day after day. It is truly a stressful situation. We are constantly worrying about our own lives, the lives of our loved ones, and the lives of all of the medical professionals that are fighting this fight for us, exposing themselves to the risk of being affected by this terrifying disease themselves.
It seems that some of us are dealing with a bit more anxiety than others in this situation, knowing that their risk is higher as compared to the general population. Pregnant women, older people above the age of 65, young children, and chronically ill patients are marked as high-risk groups.
We ask all of our readers to stay calm and follow the instructions provided by their government and the World Health Organization (WHO). In the meantime, we have some pretty effective coping techniques that you can apply in your everyday life, thus reducing any anxiety, stress, and fear that you are probably dealing with.
- Be physically active from the comfort of your home
One of the best ways to keep your body and mind healthy and happy, but also to keep yourself busy and distracted from the surrounding chaos is to be physically active. We are living in a world of technology, and we better use that to our advantage. Use the internet to find yourself some fitness videos to get you started.
Regular physical activity is a great, scientifically-proven method when it comes to lowering stress levels and relieving anxiety. It does not have to be anything heavy or too much time-consuming. Aim for at least 30 minutes a day and see how your body and mind respond to that.
- Limit your screen time
Try to limit your screen time as much as possible. Sure, you can watch some movies, but work on limiting your time on social media and focusing on the crises. It is important to get informed, but overdoing it will not do you any good. It will only raise your already existing anxiety, and that is the last thing that you would like to happen at times like these.
Instead, focus on getting your information from trustworthy sources such as the news. Do not spend more than 1-2 hours in front of the screen and do not refer to sources that are only looking for a way to make some money from this situation by sharing false news and sharing panic among people.
- Give relaxation techniques a try
Breathing techniques, practicing mindfulness, yoga, and meditation are all scientifically-proven relaxation techniques that have had great success in situations with gathered-up anxiety. So why not give them a try? Once again, you can use the internet to search for proper instructions and later distract yourself by trying out these techniques and finding your favorite ones.
- Get enough sleep
Dealing with a lot of anxiety, stress, fear, and nervousness can sure have its toll on your mental and physical health by affecting your sleep. You may find yourself lying in bed more often, being unable to fall asleep, and constantly thinking about the crises. At times like these, do remind yourself how important adequate sleep is. Now more than ever, your body and mind need those 8 hours of recommended sleep each night.
You can try turning off your phone/computer/TV two hours before bed, have a nice cup of chamomile tea, take a hot shower, and talk to close one before going to bed. Practicing a bit yoga or even trying out the breathing techniques that we mentioned earlier can also have quite a positive effect as well.
- Seek professional help when needed
If you feel like your anxiety is just too much, and you cannot deal with it alone, then it is time to ask for some professional help. You might be wondering – How am I supposed to do that if I am instructed to self-isolate as much as possible? Do not worry because we have you covered. Once again, you can use the technology to your advantage and ask for professional help online. Just visit Gagne Behavioral Health Care and use our telepsychiatry services offered across the country.
As of March 6, 2020, Medicare is now offering to pay clinicians to provide their Telehealth services and help those who need it. This new change has been introduced by The Trump Administration and is surely one that we could all take advantage of. If you are new to using Telehealth services and wonder what it is, know this – Telehealth represents a distribution of a wide range of health-related services using the well-known telecommunication technologies. This is certainly good news for anyone who owns a smartphone, tablet, computer, etc. and is in need of any health service such as counseling for their anxiety.
Conclusion
Since the first coronavirus outbreak, it seems as if we are spending our days worrying about what can be expected tomorrow. Living with such anxiety, fear, and stress day after day, especially now when we are instructed to stay at home as much as possible and avoid contact with other people can be a lot. That is why we highly recommend using the relaxation methods that we have shared today with you in addition to referring to Gagne Behavioral Health Care where we specialize in offering help with depression and anxiety, among other health issues.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554776/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3632802/https://gbh.care/