We are affected by the stress caused by the COVID-19 virus, what it means for us as individuals, our friends and family and communities, and the economy. Some are most stressed by uncertainty, some by the isolation, some by the additional stress at work or taking care of kids at home. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the changes and the uncertainty.
Tips for coping with worry
Remember, fear and anxiety are normal, natural responses to threats, danger and uncertainty. But it is easy to get lost in worrying and ruminating about all sorts of things that are out of your control.
The function of worry is to solve a problem or urge you to action – to do something – but if the stressor is out of control, or you have done or are doing all you can, worrying becomes unhelpful. The more we focus on what’s not in our control, the more hopeless or anxious we are likely to feel.
So the single most useful thing anyone can do in any type of crisis is to focus energy on what’s in your control.