4 TIPS ON HOW TO MANAGE ANXIETY DURING COVID-19
Updated: Jun 16, 2020
The world is uncertain and it has always been. COVID-19 didn’t change that. In fact, it uncovered this false sense of security that we perceived to believe for countless years. This is an unprecedented time for all of us affecting our jobs, relationships, mental and physical health. I’ll share some tips I personally use to manage my anxiety. The most important thing to remember is to refrain from repressing our emotions.
I socially distanced myself before social distancing became a thing. Suffering from social anxiety for as long as I can remember has had its advantages. One, being, I can relate to others who have it. Other than that, there are not many other advantages. I was obsessed with how others were going to perceive me. I never addressed these negative thoughts to friends or family in my teen years, or to a professional for that matter. I don’t advise this way of life.
Repressing your emotions leads to a blocked sacral chakra. If you find yourself not being able to sit down for an hour or even a 30-minute yoga class, then it’s possible you might be experiencing this blockage too. Other symptoms include fear, low self-esteem, and insecurity.
Poses to counteract this include frog pose and pigeon. I do warn you that frog pose is quite an intense pose, but it is worth the while. I remember holding this for 5 minutes during my yoga teacher training and facing legitimate tears afterwards. I had a lot of emotions to work through that day.
https://www.theyogacollective.com/poses/frog-pose-mandukasana/
Tip #1: Distance, Not Disconnecting
We all know 6-feet apart, but this doesn’t mean that we have to be disconnected from calling our friends or our dearest family members. Trust me, your loved ones would probably like to know how you’re doing and it's a great idea to check in on them and send them your love!
We’re social beings and we’re called to have diverse meaningful relationships. If you don’t feel like talking, then try Skyping/FaceTiming and do an activity in each others’ presence. This can easily be cooking together, watching a movie, having a virtual self-care night, whatever makes you feel whole!
If you’re still quarantined at home and feel like a significant other or your family members are driving you nuts or you crave a different perspective, then I encourage you to try a guided personalized meditation. Celestial Rose Wellness offers customized meditation classes that help deal with personal trauma and/or anxieties. More details are located on the resources tab.
Tip #2: Social Media Distancing
Imagine a world where there’s no wifi at home, and you’re quarantined all by yourself. Could you imagine? This was me just three months ago and I honestly wish I could go back to not having wifi. Being without it eliminated the constant struggle of trying to seek balance with time spent on social media.
One of my weaknesses is thinking in extremes. I either cut myself off completely from social media or I binge. I’m learning to create balance and I encourage you to do the same. Limit your screen time if it’s making you more stressed.
One of the symptoms of a blocked sacral chakra is addiction. If you fall victim to this, my advice is to delete an app you struggle with. Try this for a day and just notice how you feel. Instead, try to become grounded by tapping into your creativity. When I didn’t have wifi at home, I read self-help books, drew, meal-prepped lunches and snacks, too (Protein balls? Yes, please!), And morning yoga, of course!
Tip #3: No more basic gratitude
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/522417625511843902/
This one is often overlooked, but it pays huge dividends. I don’t want to say I was extremely offended, but I took slight offense when my friend said she didn’t get any real benefits from practicing gratitude. This can be true and was true for me in the beginning. But then again, I was expressing basic gratitude. Here’s what my gratitude list looked like in the beginning: shelter, food, and family. Done! No, no, no.
Gratitude is expressed much differently for me now. The other day I took my dog on a walk and left my phone at home (you know, because no wifi at the time). I was grateful I no longer had this attachment to my phone, for witnessing the beauty of the sunrise, the ability to walk my dog, the ability to notice my negative thoughts and redirect my thinking patterns. I’m grateful for the lessons I learn from my anxiety and that I have all the tools to overcome it. I’m grateful to be here and to serve others.
What are some things you are grateful for during these pressing times?
Tip #4: Disrupt negative thoughts
This one I don’t go a day without practicing. If you find yourself entertaining negative thoughts, acknowledge you are having them and then disrupt! Start laughing nonstop for 20 seconds, then set the intention to create new thought patterns. If you’re deep into your negative thoughts get the whole body involved by shaking every part of your body. Look at yourself in a mirror when you do this and if your experience is similar to mine, then you most likely won’t be able to stop laughing at yourself. Give it a try!
If you feel like you tried every technique in the book and still feel anxious afterwards, then know that there are infinite ways to manage anxiety and keep at it. Be patient. These are just some tips that worked for me and may not be your cup of tea, that’s fine too. Find what works for you and possibly share with us. We’re in this together, all trying to heal ourselves, in order to heal others and the world.
Namaste,
Carly Clasen
Blogger & Creatrix Extraordinaire
Celestial Rose Wellness