It has been a difficult start to the year for Australians with unprecedented bushfires testing our resilience – and before we could even begin to recover, our attention swiftly shifted to anxiety and fear around the COVID-19 pandemic.
We learn more about this coronavirus on a daily basis and are impacted in ways that we have not seen for generations.
Our immediate future is uncertain
But one thing is certain – social connectedness is one of the strongest predictors of resilience and recovery following trauma and disaster, with research emphasising the importance of staying in contact with others.
But how do we stay connected when the advice for surviving the pandemic is to do the exact opposite?
Look for alternative opportunities for social connection, perhaps via social media suggests Professor David Forbes from the Phoenix Australia Centre for Postraumatic Mental Health. Professor Forbes highlights how vital it is for people to feel personally connected, included and supported.
If you’re feeling anxious, you’re not alone
It’s important to remember that many of us will be experiencing some anxiety at the moment.
That’s normal – and it’s OK.
We need to be self-aware and attuned to what’s making us feel a bit worried. If constantly reading every story is making it worse – that’s not staying informed – that’s just overwhelming us.
Part of anxiety stems from feeling like we don’t have control, so try to focus on what you CAN control, like good hygiene, washing your hands properly, and social distancing. Have a healthy diet, keep exercising, and get enough sleep.
The importance of connection
This is unchartered territory in a world where connectedness is taken for granted.
One thing that can help is to simply talk about it. It might feel uncomfortable, but telling the people in your life that you’re feeling a bit worried can be powerful.
It’s also totally OK to tell people, you know what I’m actually maxed out on the COVID-19 talk today, let’s talk about something else.
At the end of the day, it’s all about finding balance. Our entire lives shouldn’t be all about COVID-19. We have to try and find ways to stay engaged in our normal daily lives
Be careful where you get your information
On top of the spread of disease, the spread of misinformation has been huge and it only makes some of us more worried. If you’ve started to become concerned about COVID-19 and feel like the world is just one big germ, you’re definitely not alone!
It’s important that we know where to go for the most reliable information – and no, places like facebook and TikTok don’t count!
It’s sometimes hard to know what to believe and what not to, especially when our friends might be sharing things online, and sometimes some of this information actually looks legitimate.
The bottom line is, only trust websites like the World Health Organisation or official government websites.
Calming our “Coronavirus Anxiety”
Sometimes, having access to information isn’t enough to calm our “Coronavirus Anxiety”.
That’s why we have relaxation techniques. There are some really basic ones like deep breathing which you can do just about anywhere. Take a very deep breath in through your nose for four seconds, and out through your mouth for four seconds. You should feel your lungs and chest cavity expand as you breathe in and drop as you breathe out.
You can try other things like distracting yourself by singing your favourite song, or writing about how you’re feeling in a journal.
And even though we have to practice social distancing as much as possible at the moment, we are still able to get outside and do some physical activity.
Try to limit your time on social media – too much access to screens can be unhealthy and can cause extra worry and anxiety.
And it’s a good time to be a little selfish! Have you been wanting to learn how to do something new, start a new book or spend time practicing a musical instrument? Now is the time to do that. Focusing on yourself and finding ways to use your new-found time is a productive way to look after your mental health.
Make a list of all of the books you want to read and the things that you have been meaning to do!
Feel your feelings!
It’s OK to feel your feelings. You might be missing your loved ones right now. Perhaps you can’t give your partner or children an embrace for fear of exposure. How you process your feelings will look different for everyone. But just try to remember the bigger picture at the moment, and remember that this will eventually pass.
Try to be kind to yourself – and others. Now, more than ever, we need to be thoughtful about how we treat each other. What we say and what we do are SO important. So lets be a little more mindful.
Stay safe and well everyone.
