How To Cope with The Coronavirus Outbreak

DISCLAIMER: This post should not be taken as medical advice of any kind. If you or someone you know are overwhelmed and thinking of harming yourself or others please call 911 immediately.

Hey everyone. The news about the Coronavirus pandemic has had everyone in a frenzy. On top of dealing with hand sanitizer shortage and empty store shelves, this is a stressful time for everyone but it may be even more overwhelming if you suffer from depression or anxiety.

So what do you do if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed or anxious? I’ve put together a list of things we can do to keep us calm during this time.

What to do?

Limit time on social media. I don’t know about you but I’ve been spending hours on top of hours scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, and my local news since things have gotten serious. All this has done is gotten me more anxious about what’s gonna come next…. Not good. Take some time to unplug from social media.

Unwind. Read a book, paint your nails, play with your pet, play your favorite video game. Do anything that relaxes you.

Connect with loved ones. Although we’re practicing “social distancing”, we don’t want isolate ourselves from everyone. Isolation can make depression worst. Call your friends or family to see if they’re doing okay.

Get informed. The more facts you have, there’s less chance of you freaking out or panicking. Get your news from reputable sources, NOT FACEBOOK. People are posting any and everything without checking if they’re true or not (which is also part of the reason for the hysteria).

Stay calm. Especially if you have kids. Children can sense when something is wrong based on your body language or listening to your conversations. And when kids see mom and dad freaking out, they don’t feel safe. Try to stay calm, keep your normal routine somewhat and keep them as engaged as possible.

Avoid alcohol and drugs. Besides being unhealthy coping mechanisms, alcohol and drugs can actually make depression and anxiety worst.

Wash your hands. Protect yourself, protect your family.

For more information about stress and coping, visit the CDC website here.