Are You Experiencing Lockdown Easing Anxiety?
Whether you called it quarantine, self-isolation, or lockdown, the fact remains that most people have stayed at home during the first peak of the coronavirus pandemic. In some areas, it was part of newly introduced government guidelines to stay at home, and individuals who didn’t respect lockdown restrictions were handed fines. In other places, self-isolation was not considered mandatory. Regardless of your situation, you’ve probably started to notice some modifications in your everyday self-isolation routine. Public gatherings may not be encouraged everywhere, but it is tolerated in most places as long as people maintain safety rules of social distancing, and wearing protective gear. The bottom line: The lockdown situation is easing out. But what should be positive news is a source of anxiety and fear for many individuals who are worried that COVID-19 is still out there. You might find yourself canceling social distancing plans with friends and relatives to delay the moment you have to leave your home. It’s okay to be worried about COVID-19. However, you need to make sure your anxiety is not getting out of control and keeping you indoors.
Being worried is healthy
Right now is not the time to go back to your normal, pre-pandemic life. But, thankfully, it’s not that easing self-isolation means. Easing the lockdown is about reintroducing small steps to restart the local economy and encourage natural herd immunity. Additionally, it’s fair to say that the world can’t carry on forever in a lockdown situation. Easing the lockdown is the next logical step. It’s hard to say whether the time is right. Health agencies are struggling to justify prolonging lockdown in most areas despite the current risk. As a result, it is perfectly normal to feel nervous at the idea of going out of the safety of your home. If anything, it is going to help you stay vigilant during the transition period. While COVID-19 cases are slowing down, the virus hasn’t disappeared. Consequently, your anxiety is a natural brain process that is designed to keep you safe. Respond to it by addressing the main points of concern. Indeed, as the virus is still around, easing the lockdown means leaving your home, not skipping facial protection, or ignoring safe social distancing.
Let go of the survivor guilt
The situation has been so extreme during the first peak of the pandemic that a lot of people have lost someone to the virus, or know someone who has lost a relative. The survival rate may be a lot higher than we first assumed due to asymptomatic cases. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to let it affect you. For some individuals, COVID-19 was no more than a bad case of flu, while others have needed ventilation assistance. Unfortunately, there is no rule with the pandemic. But, you can’t let it drag you into a dark place where you question why you have survived while others haven’t. Survivor guilt is likely to be a severe mental health issue on the exit of the lockdown. It isn’t uncommon for individuals who have been personally affected by the pandemic to question their self-worth. Managing suicidal thoughts and depression is not easy, whether you are expressing those thoughts or you are at the receiving end. Remind yourself that these emotions are reasonable in the situation. But they shouldn’t stop you from believing that there is still hope in the future.
Negotiate your flexible working arrangement
Even those who have not lost anybody to the virus are uncertain about going back to their normal life. Anonymous professional network, Blind, reports that almost two-thirds of the working population would prefer to stay at home even after restrictions are lifted. Professionals who are not ready to go back to work can reach out to their employer to discuss prolonging flexible arrangements. Ultimately, COVID-19 has helped employees to demonstrate they can remain productive and effective even if they are working at home. As a result, you can take the matter into your own hands and stay at home a little longer. It can give you a sense of control and safety. If you are not ready to ease your individual lockdown, your home office can be the best approach to staying safe and relevant.
There will be a vaccine at some point
What makes COVID-19 such a potent source of anxiety is the fact that there is no vaccine. However, while there is no vaccine available today, scientists all around the world are developing treatment and research right now. It could be months before a vaccine is available. But it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. The FDA has already approved three medications that can help to tackle the virus outbreak, including anti-malaria drugs. This shows that research and discovery are still happening, and scientists have identified components that make the virus vulnerable. In other words, there’s no saying when antivirals and vaccines will hit the market. But, in all likelihood, there will be a time when COVID-19 will not be a threat anymore.
Remember that the virus is easy to destroy
Does it mean that you shouldn’t go out as long as there is no vaccine ready? No! A vaccine actively protects your body and immune system against the virus. However, you have many other methods of protection to reduce the spread and contagious risks. The coronavirus is a potent respiratory virus, but it can be annihilated entirely with one simple consumer product: Soap. Soap and water are your first weapon against COVID-19 – but if there’s no soap around, you can also use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Soap creates a chemical reaction that breaks down the virus’s protective shield, rendering it inactive and unthreatening. In other words, you only need to wash your hands to keep the virus at bay, which means that you have a reasonably effective weapon against COVID-19 right in by the side of your sink.
You can create your own protective gear
As a respiratory virus, COVID-19 doesn’t affect your health unless it enters your system, which can happen if you accidentally swallow droplets or if they land in your eyes, for example. Unfortunately, soap is ineffective in this instance. However, you can wear a pair of glasses in public to protect your eyes. There are plenty of helpful tutorials to help you figure out how to make your face mask. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to opt for a reusable DIY option rather than purchase medical protection that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other essential workers. Wearing gloves may make you feel more secure; however, it doesn’t prevent contagion. As you don’t catch the virus through your hands, there is little point in wearing gloves. Instead, your time would be better spent on making a bandana-style face mask or a hand-sewn cloth mask.
Learn ways to boost your immune system
It’s important to mention that boosting your immune system will not prevent COVID-19 from spreading. You need to obey the safety restriction rules. But a robust immune system can give you a fighting chance against the virus. Giving yourself the potential to be healthy will make a significant difference. What does it mean in practice? Many lifestyle factors weaken your immune system. High stress, for instance, can affect your health dramatically. Learning to say no to invitations and offers that disrupt your routine is an important lesson to learn. It will help you to remain centered and energized. Aside from managing stress levels, learning to develop healthy habits, such as eating more vegetables and fruits and reducing processed foods, can go a long way.
Take your time
There’s no need to rush. If you are worried that things are going too fast, you can control the pace at which you ease into the post-lockdown world. You are in charge of your actions and choices. You can limit social interactions until you feel more confident. Employers have shown they can be understanding during those hard times, so it’s a subject you can address with them. Most employers would be happy to address your worries by allowing you to work from home or adding protective measures around the workplace. Similarly, you can also discuss your fears with friends, and suggest a zoom meeting rather than a face-to-face interaction. Stating your point of view and your worries puts you in a position where you can control your anxiety.
Reach out to a therapist
You don’t have to go through your anxiety alone. Fear can be overwhelming, especially in such an extreme pandemic situation. But fear is an emotional response that needs to be understood before it can be managed. If you find it hard to get to the bottom of your anxiety alone, you can reach out to an online therapist. Therapy can help identify your triggers and produce a plan of action that keeps you safe and relaxed. Additionally, a therapist could also guide you through the self-exploratory journey. The coronavirus has forced people to face their worst nightmares about loneliness, mortality, and viruses. Regaining your peace of mind isn’t going to happen automatically after that!
Lockdown and self-isolation restrictions are being lifted. But you’re not ready to go back to your old life. It’s okay. You can take things at your pace to ensure you remain safe even when you’re outside of your home. With support and protective gear, you can learn to tackle your post-lockdown anxiety.
