With the news of confirmed cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in North America this week, many people’s concerns about the potential impact of the disease have been magnified. Given all the media coverage the disease has been receiving, there has been a rise in feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety.
These responses are normal and most understandable, however letting these worries hinder your daily actions could prove problematic to your overall well-being. Using the right coping strategies you can manage your anxious emotions by practicing mindfulness, keeping accurately informed, staying healthy and self-care practices. These tactics can be beneficial for yourself and shared with others, to ease any feelings of uncertainty.
The CDC has estimated that common symptoms of the disease show between 2-14 days after exposure, and are mainly spread through respiratory contact, breathing or coughing on someone. Like with many other illnesses, older adults, children and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
The World Health Organization recommendations to minimize the exposure and transmission of a range of illnesses include washing your hands with soap and water, covering your cough or sneeze with your elbow or tissue, avoiding direct contact with people who are sick, and avoiding direct contact with people if you are sick. They also advise that if you experience any signs of the virus including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, you should call or visit your nearest healthcare provider.
The Coronavirus: 4 Strategies to Cope with Fear, Stress, and Anxiety
1. Awareness
Media outlets can fuel fear, understanding this and keeping it front of mind are the key components to battling panic. Take solace in the knowledge that there are many people and organizations around the world working together to ensure that illnesses, like this one, are contained.
2. Education
Find a credible source you can trust, like the World Health Organization or the Public Health Agency of Canada, where you can stay up to date, make informed decisions, and accurately determine any risks or when to take reasonable precautions.
3. Healthy Living
Healthy habits are the best defense against any illness. This includes proper diet and exercise, which can also have a positive impact on your thoughts and emotions.
4. Self Care Practices
Meditation to help quiet our overanxious mind, physical activity to flush out anxious thoughts, participating in breathing exercises to ground us in the present, and keeping connected in the community to maintain a sense of normalcy are constructive ways to manage adversity.
It is natural to have feelings of unease and other anxious emotions during a health crisis. If these feelings become worse and begin to interfere with your sleep patterns or go about your daily life, it is important that you reach out and speak with a professional.
Important Note to Our Current and Future Guests:
At the Chopra Addiction and Wellness Centre, we are mindful of the risks and take public health seriously. In response to this, we will be adjusting our current policies and procedures to accommodate a range of illnesses that may affect our facility. These updated protocols will not influence any of our current services, they will only serve to keep our guests and staff healthy. We aim to provide a dependable and tranquil client experience and will continue to do this through reliable and clear communication.