5 ways to avoid quarantine anxiety

 

   

It is true, the anxiety episodes that people are experiencing in their shelter, due to the coronavirus quarantine (COVID-19), have increased. Being "locked in", without being able to have the lifestyle we were used to, has caused stress, worry and fear to begin to take hold of people. Through a series of investigations, on different web pages, in addition to videos from specialists in the field, I have been able to reach a series of steps to avoid anxiety in quarantine, which are:

1) Make sure you get the correct data.

Information and news about the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) are everywhere. Local news, online, on social media - everyone seems to have information, and certainly everyone has opinions. Staying up-to-date is important, but it is still better to read only those sources that are reliable.

2) Stay on top of your health.

Your health should always be a priority. However, during this coronavirus quarantine, staying healthy becomes more important than ever. Dr. Marc Boom, President and CEO of Houston Methodist Hospital, stated, “Don't forget about your health. Do you want to stay healthy to reduce your risk of contracting any disease, including COVID-19? Then stay healthy, which means eating healthy, getting plenty of rest, and exercising. "

3) Take control of your fear or anxiety

There is still uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. How long will it last? Will the outlook get worse ?, etc ... Keep in mind that there are many aspects about the new coronavirus that we do know, and every day we learn new things about it. It may sound counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to control our fear of the unknown is to prepare for the fact that there is uncertainty. “At this time, we cannot say how long this will last. I think we should all prepare for the next couple of months, but we should also prepare for the event that the contingency lasts longer, ”Dr. Boom said. Meanwhile, it is important to fight fear and anxiety with things that relax us.

4) Practice meditation, prayer, or mindfulness.

It's important to stay up-to-date on the coronavirus pandemic, but focusing on this topic alone can cause unnecessary stress. The best thing to do to avoid anxiety is to make time for mindfulness, prayer, or meditation. Long deep breaths, focusing on the present, and taking a moment to be grateful for what you have are good ways to focus and bring peace of mind to your life.

5) Take advantage of your time at home.

At first, social distancing may sound like an inconvenience, but you may want to see it as an opportunity. In this sense, it is important that you use this time to develop something that you have never done, consider catching up on aspects that you have left aside in months or years. Consider using this time at home for example:

• Take an online course
  
• Call friends and family to catch up
  
• Cook more meals at home
  
• Leave a vice
  
• Perform household chores
  
• Read more books