The Coronavirus (COVID-19)-What to do if you are anxious about the virus
You may be feeling anxious, concerned and even stressed about the current news on the coronavirus (COVID-19). These feelings are perfectly understandable, especially if you are struggling with mental health issues or you have a physical illness. You might be feeling anxious about your own health, or that of your family and friends and feeling worried about the impact the virus might have on your life. The Bloomsbury Therapy Practice can offer you support during this difficult time. Please get in touch with us to see how we can help you. As the UK government is advising people to stay at home and practice social distancing, the practice can offer Skype, Zoom or other types of video calls.
6 Steps you can take to help you through this difficult
1 – Time to talk to someone about how you are feeling
It is normal to feel worried about the virus, however, if you are starting to feel overwhelmed, then speak to a professional, or someone you trust. It is important to acknowledge your feelings and not bottle up your emotions.
2 – Limit Exposure to the News and Social Media
Whilst it is important to stay informed, overexposing yourself to constant news or social media reports can become overwhelming. Do try to get your information from official and repeatable websites. Try to limit the amount of time you watch or read the news. Remember that you are in charge of what you see or allow on your feed, so do take a break from social media if you are starting to feel overwhelmed with the constant feeds or updates about the virus.
3 – Equip yourself with the facts
There is a lot of misinformation about the virus, reading this can make you feel even more anxious. Equip yourself with the facts by using official websites that give you the most up-to-date and reliable source of information. You can visit NHS England’s website for more information if you are worried about symptoms.
4 – Engage in calming activities
During this time, it is important to look not only look after your physical health but your mental health too. You may want to engage in activities that help you to feel and stay calm. You may want to practice breathing techniques, playing calming music, and writing down how you feel/mood diary.
5 – Have a daily routine
At this uncertain time, having a daily routine can help you to maintain a sense of normality. Try to keep to your daily routine and structure as much as possible. Try to include activities that help you to feel calm such as breathing exercises for example.
6 – Coping with self-isolation
In the event that you may have to self-isolate, (staying away from other people to prevent the potential spread of the virus) think about how you can stay in communication with your family and friends through various mediums such as phone calls or video calls. It is important that you stay connected to those you care about trust and do not feel alone during this difficult time.
Get in touch with us here at the Bloomsbury Therapy Practice to see how we can help you and do remember that we offer skype sessions.
For more information on how to protect yourself, please see the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) website for more information. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public