Anxiety in the time of corona
I feel like I can speak for most in saying that anxiety is at an all-time lately. Life as we know it has changed and it's definitely an adjustment. With each day, each hour, we don't know what new development we'll hear.
I've been home since Friday afternoon. I went out for a few hours on Saturday to a scheduled tattoo appointment. Some may read that and think, "are you crazy?" but in reality, tattoo shops have to follow strict sanitation guidelines... plus I want to still support my local businesses as much as I can. Other than those few hours and a couple yesterday out in the park, I've been home. I know that most, at least here in the northeast, are in the same boat.
I was talking with some friends this morning about food and eating in times like this. For me, when I'm extremely anxious or upset, I can't eat. I get so nauseous that I simply cannot stomach food. Others may feel the same way or simply go the exact opposite. We might overeat due to the stress, or eat because we're bored. I think no matter which way you cope with the anxiety, it's what has to work for you. I'm definitely at the low-end of the appetite spectrum right now.
I, for one, have been talking on the phone much more than normal. I've been calling people and telling others to do the same. I've been video chatting and Facetiming... answering text messages much more quickly. It definitely helps to stay connected even if it's only for 5 minutes. You don't realize just how much you need human interaction until you've been cut off from it.
But the anxiety is still there and I can't seem to get the pit out of my stomach. I know I'm not alone in that. Everyone that I talk to is anxious or scared or depressed or simply going stir-crazy. It's terrifying not knowing what is going to happen next. Also, living alone in a situation like this is beyond scary. If something were to happen to me, well... let's just hope that doesn't happen.
It feels cliche to say we're all in this together... but we are. This situation is scary and we need to take care of ourselves, look out for others, and check in on each other. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health right now. Even those who don't have underlying mental health conditions are feeling the impact of this. Anxiety, depression... it's all there.
Please take care of yourselves and check in on those who need it. Hopefully we can all be together again when this finally passes.
- Danielle
I've been home since Friday afternoon. I went out for a few hours on Saturday to a scheduled tattoo appointment. Some may read that and think, "are you crazy?" but in reality, tattoo shops have to follow strict sanitation guidelines... plus I want to still support my local businesses as much as I can. Other than those few hours and a couple yesterday out in the park, I've been home. I know that most, at least here in the northeast, are in the same boat.
I was talking with some friends this morning about food and eating in times like this. For me, when I'm extremely anxious or upset, I can't eat. I get so nauseous that I simply cannot stomach food. Others may feel the same way or simply go the exact opposite. We might overeat due to the stress, or eat because we're bored. I think no matter which way you cope with the anxiety, it's what has to work for you. I'm definitely at the low-end of the appetite spectrum right now.
So how do we deal? How do we cope in a time when our lives and everything that we're used to has been turned upside down?
I, for one, have been talking on the phone much more than normal. I've been calling people and telling others to do the same. I've been video chatting and Facetiming... answering text messages much more quickly. It definitely helps to stay connected even if it's only for 5 minutes. You don't realize just how much you need human interaction until you've been cut off from it.
But the anxiety is still there and I can't seem to get the pit out of my stomach. I know I'm not alone in that. Everyone that I talk to is anxious or scared or depressed or simply going stir-crazy. It's terrifying not knowing what is going to happen next. Also, living alone in a situation like this is beyond scary. If something were to happen to me, well... let's just hope that doesn't happen.
It feels cliche to say we're all in this together... but we are. This situation is scary and we need to take care of ourselves, look out for others, and check in on each other. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health right now. Even those who don't have underlying mental health conditions are feeling the impact of this. Anxiety, depression... it's all there.
Please take care of yourselves and check in on those who need it. Hopefully we can all be together again when this finally passes.
- Danielle
