How to Manage Stress and Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the way you live your life, since you are stuck in self-quarantine alone or with your family. Going out to the grocery store to stock up on essential items can be a risky and caution-filled endeavor. You have become over-protective of your supply of toilet paper and disinfectant wipes, and run away from anyone who gets within six feet of your social distancing buffer zone. 

COVID-19 has consumed the news as infection cases and deaths rise everyday. However, the added stress on you and others in the world is being somewhat lost in translation in the current media frenzy.

According to the American Psychological Association, 62% of Americans say they are stressed out about their financial situations and 63% are nervous about the country’s future. These numbers will likely rise due to the job market and economic insecurity caused by the virus.

The self-quarantine element of the pandemic can also add to your possible stress. Being stuck in a small space with your family, or by yourself, for weeks on end is enough to make anyone go stir-crazy.

However, this matter has not gone completely unnoticed. The Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz (IDMH) has released a tip sheet to help manage stress during the coronavirus pandemic. The document gives advice on how to identify what you’re anxious about, how to reflect on it in a healthy way and determining what’s in your control and what isn’t.

After reading suggestions given by the IDMH, I had some questions that needed expert responses and was curious about other people’s experiences during the pandemic.

“I am the only person in my family who hasn’t lost a fair amount of income due to the pandemic so there is extra pressure to provide and pay upcoming bills.”

Takura Sophia-Blaise, a third-year student at SUNY New Paltz

I feel I’m doing okay, should I be worried?

“The answer is no,” says Dr. Karla Vermeulen, the Deputy Director for the IDMH and an Associate Professor of Psychology at SUNY New Paltz.

Reactions differ on a person to person basis due to personality traits and being in different situations. Someone who suffers from higher levels of anxiety might be feeling the effects of this situation a bit more than those who don’t. The same goes for people who are currently looking after a loved one who worry for their health.

“I’m a relatively sedentary person who enjoys working out here and there, so the self-isolation isn’t killing me too much,” says Jared LaBrecque, a third-year student at SUNY New Paltz. 

However, different personalities and reactions to the pandemic do not always live harmoniously. “There’s the camp of people saying ‘why are you freaking out?’ versus the camp of people saying ‘why aren’t you freaking out?,’” Vermeulen says.

This can cause conflict and could limit your ability to support one another. The tip sheet advises compassion and sympathy and to not judge yourself or others for having different ways of coping with the current situation.

What can I do to prevent going stir crazy?

“Everything around me seems to reinforce all of the anxiety in my mind of how destructive this virus is,” says Amayah Spence, a SUNY New Paltz second-year student.

The best thing you can do to fix this and keep your sanity is to do nothing. Limiting your news intake is absolutely critical for having good mental health during this time. “There is no reason to be monitoring news 24/7,” Vermeulen says. “It’s just a constant reminder of the stressors.”

The IDMH tip sheet urges you to choose what news you are absorbing carefully and to be aware of misinformation. The IDMH recommends the Centers for Disease Control website for accurate information and to only check for new information a few times a day.

Maintaining social connections virtually can also be extremely critical to good mental health. “Just stay connected however you can with people.” Vermuelen says. “Don’t ruminate about the situation because it’s just not healthy or helpful.”

Watching a TV show or listening to music can help you deal with stress and potential insanity from self-isolation as it takes your mind off the current gloom.

Lara Morales, a third-year student at SUNY New Paltz, has been able to mix social connections and entertainment by using the Google Chrome extension Netflix Party which allows you to watch a show or movie with your friends and web chat simultaneously.

Taking a walk around your block can also be very helpful just as long as you stay at least six-feet away from other people. According to Vermuelen, who has been baking cakes and breads in her free time, changing your routine is good.

And if you are someone who has hobbies and activities that consist of depressing subject matter, fear not because you can continue doing that. According to Vermuelen, as long as that subject matter gets your mind off of the current distressing pandemic, continue doing it. This is referred to in psychology as Downward Social Comparison which is all about putting your current situation into perspective and comparing it with one that could be worse.

For example, the coronavirus may be infecting and killing more and more people each day, but at least the zombie apocalypse is not coinciding with it.

It may seem obvious and go without saying, but keeping a positive mindset is also quite important. This can be elaborated on through the use of PERMA, which entails keeping positive emotions, engaging skills, maintaining relationships, having a sense of meaning or purpose, and having feelings of accomplishment from work or hobbies.

According to Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell, the Vice President of Student Affairs at SUNY New Paltz, positive psychology can help people cope with adversity and help them flourish at the same time.

Could the United States have a collective mental snap?

“I am the only person in my family who hasn’t lost a fair amount of income due to the pandemic so there is extra pressure to provide and pay upcoming bills,” says Takura Sophia-Blaise, a third-year student at SUNY New Paltz who alleviates stress by playing video games.

The economic downturn caused by the novel coronavirus which has caused people to lose their jobs and file for unemployment, is very concerning. On top of that, in 2019 the American Psychological Association saw an increase in stress with topics like climate change and terrorism while anxiety about the 2020 presidential election has increased from 52 to 56% in three years. With all of that in mind, could the United States have a collective mental breakdown?

It’s impossible to say for sure at this time. That being said, it’s important to always keep things in perspective. Vermuelen mentions this sentiment is especially true of younger people who maybe don’t have the life experience to put all of this stress into context.

For that context, Vermuelen thought back to living in lower Manhattan during the fallout from 9/11. “At that time, it felt like the world was ending and things would never feel okay again. And they did, ultimately, and I think that we’ll get through this in the same kind of way.”

If you are experiencing clinical levels of anxiety or depression please visit with a mental health professional. Tips on finding the right professional help can be found here. The SUNY New Paltz Psychological Counseling Center is offering services remotely and can be reached at 845-257-2920 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nick Califra

Nick Califra is a fourth-year journalism student. He is from Cortlandt Manor, New York and enjoys writing and reading about various topics.

Next Post

Baptism by Fire: Nursing Students Prepare for an Unseen Challenge

Wed May 13 , 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the United States, with the respect of nurses skyrocketing in every facet. A current nurse describes the turmoil, two […]

You May Like

TWITTER

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.