How To Ease Your Anxiety In Lockdown
Lockdown has brought about some pretty rubbish feelings for a lot of people. Being in a position where you get to choose whether you stay inside is one thing, but being told you have no choice (even though the reasons are valid) makes for a very stressful situation. It’s claustrophobic to be told to stay indoors, and it’s not natural for humans to stay away from each other (we’re very sociable creatures). However, Coronavirus has absolutely kicked our butts, and it’s also taught us that more of us become anxious when we are in isolation.
Did you know that one in four people suffer with a mental health issue? Many people don't know that statistic, and it’s never been more apparent than now, with children and families trying to balance home education and working from home at the same time. COVID-19 has been completely unprecedented, with the panic and dread spiralling out of control for many. The good news? This whole situation is not permanent. Viruses have - as history shows - come and gone, and we are more prepared and up to date than ever on medications and ways to prevent the spread. Soon enough, lockdown will ease and the world will go back to a new normal. Before that, though, you need to work on easing your anxiety and managing your emotions in this lockdown situation.
We’re in the history books, so let’s see how we can hold tight and get through the storm together.
It’s very easy to picture an “end of the world” scenario in your head when you are seeing the media sensationalize the whole situation. Yes, there is a catastrophic death rate occurring, but you need to pay more attention to the present in your own city. Meditation can help you to pull yourself in and gain some perspective. It will take time to reach that “empty mind” state, but once you get there, you will be able to relax and observe your own feelings.
Connect
Your social circle may be one that you can only touch virtually right now but it’s one that you need to stay as close to as possible. If you’re living alone especially, you need to have people to talk to! Isolation physically doesn't mean total isolation, so get online and set up Skype and other video conferencing mediums to help.
Treat Yourself
Whether you choose to get a stoner box and really chill out, or you sink into a bubble bath, you need to make sure you prioritize your own self-care. Lockdown - especially if you don't have kids - is a time to really let your body relax. Let yourself recharge and breathe slowly. It’s not easy to let go of everything and just relax, but do it for your own mental health.
Get Creative
You can let yourself indulge in something creative. Repaint a room, use your coloring books, paint a mural on a wall - no matter what you pick, let yourself be creative and invest in yourself while you do it.
Try Out Yoga
A good stretch is one of the ways to be regularly, physically active. You can elevate your mood and release some of those stress hormones. There are plenty of online workouts on YouTube, and you can truly relax without needing to bring in any equipment with it!
Sit Outside
You may not be able to go to the shops for long or to the beach, but you can definitely sit outside. You don't even need a garden to do this; sit on the front step if you must! The point here is getting enough sunlight, and you don't need to be too active for that!
Keep Your Routine Going
To keep the anxiety at bay, you need to stick to as many routines as possible. You want to be productive, and that means taking the time off some of the screens and doing something that will be more beneficial to your health and your knowledge. Sign up with an online course and get some knowledge via distraction. You can do it!
Turn Off The News (Kind Of)
You may need to learn to control the news that you get if it’s making you anxious. You should think about stepping back from social media and switching on the news only for an update every day. Sometimes, too much information is not conducive to your mental health. Appreciate that and honor it for yourself.
Ease your lockdown anxiety and you’ll feel 100% better when you do it!
