This is a crazy time, isn't it? The uncertainty of everything concerning the Coronavirus is really unsettling and is causing major disruptions in our lives, and stirring up a lot of anxiety as well.
For those of us with social anxiety, the social distancing part isn't a problem for us. I know we can joke about it but I certainly don't mean it in an insensitive way. When you are a person who craves being protected from the judgement of other people, being required to stay away from people can actually bring a sense of relief.
I realized today that, seriousness of this situation aside, we can rest assured that neither the Relief Society president, our ministering sisters, home teachers or bishopric members will just stop by unannounced. :) Whew!
But in all seriousness, we can actually take this time to connect with them from a distance - through texting or email and it will be perfectly acceptable. No socializing required. It can feel so much more comfortable from afar and we can still offer our sincere support.
As a side note, I, myself, have enjoyed having church at home the last 2 weeks and have felt the spirit really strong in our home (as I have also heard from others). I try to look at it as a special time to connect with those living in our homes and bringing the spirit into our homes in a different but profound way.
I hope you are all doing well!
For some of us, our anxiety goes beyond just the social part. I've shared with you that I started having panic attacks and a much broader range of daily anxiety that has greatly affected my life.
I have been seeing a counselor every couple of weeks and am still following the positive helps I mentioned in my last post and those under Helpful Resources. The podcast really helps a lot. She has such good practical and actionable recommendations. I highly recommend it.
I have also tried to incorporate more church related sources into my daily routine - right now I'm listening to Sis. Wendy Watson Nelson's book on CD: Covenant Keepers. I find it helpful to bring in as much positivity as I can, especially right now when there is a lot of negativity and worry swirling around.
It's important to get out of our heads when we feel our anxiety spinning. If you find yourself really worrying and obsessing about the Coronavirus, take a look at how much information you're taking in and re-evaluate it. Staying informed is important but an overabundance of information or focus on it may only lead to an increase in worry and anxiety without helping us at all.
Focus on what you CAN do - like eating healthy, following the guidelines from the CDC and government and sticking to positive, healthy routines, etc. and then decide which reputable sources you'll follow and keep it to a minimum to stay informed. It's not necessary to keep reading about every detail and statistic about the Coronavirus or you may get overwhelmed with worry.
Get outside. Exercise. Meditate. Listen to music. Sing. Dance. There are really so many things we can do to help break the cycle of worry. I recently discovered that something as simple as telling myself to "change the channel" in my head and imagining myself clicking the nob to another channel (like an old tv dial nob from one of the tv's I grew up with) really helps me break the cycle of negative or obsessive thinking. Nope. Program's over. It totally works for me.
How are you doing through all of this? I hope you are healthy and able to keep yourself in a positive place in your mind. Let me know how you're doing and if you have any helpful tips to share on how you're combating your stress and anxiety. As always, thinking of you and sending happy, healthy prayers your way!
