Yes, the universe has sent forward one of the biggest stressor mankind has seen and it's pretty obvious to feel the anxiety and worry caused by the uncertainty of the Pandemic.
This on going Pandemic is bad enough for mentally healthy folks, but for the people going through mental health issues such as Anxiety Disorders and OCD this is 10-20 times more stressful and worrisome and may just seem like an endless stream of nightmares!
There are a number of things that one can do to reduce anxiety during this Pandemic.
1. Stay Away From Constant Pandemic News: Reading something constantly can lead to excessive worry and repeated thoughts revolving around a single thing!
> Allot a time in a day where you catch up on the news and only read it from WHO website!
> Avoid reading it right after waking up and before going to bed.
> I understand that pandemic news is literally everywhere including television but just try to take it as a precautionary measure and not a panic boom.
2. Engage In Productive and Creative Activities: Try to spend most of your day in productivity. It's a myth that to be productive you have to be in your workplace! You can be productive in your home as well! Engage in learning something new, be it cooking, learning a new language or a new skill. Knowledge never goes to waste. When you succeed in learning something new it gives you a sense of pride and and a feeling of reward..so basically it's giving out more positive vibes!
> Download language learning apps (read my previous blog for top 5 language learning apps)
>Go on some DIY Instagram profiles and engage in art and craft.
> Learn that thing you always wanted to
3. Talk and Connect with Family/Friends via Phone: Phone has never felt more like a blessing before! Internet, Calling services and literally saving us from the clutches of loneliness now more than ever. Talking is very important as it helps to release your emotions. Built up emotions are more harmful to your mental health than anything else.
> Try to call at least one of your family members or friends everyday! Listen to them and let them listen to you.
4. Create An Uplifting Space Around You: It's really important how your surroundings are! Keep your surrounding area clean and pleasant! Add some crafty decorations and colors around..some fairy lights if available. Create a stimulating environment.This way you can engage in making crafts and decorations an kill time.
> Try to add variety in the crafts and decorations.
> Make use of newspapers, old and new, to make something out of it.
> Have pleasant uplifting music in the background.
And last but definitely not the least,
5. Meditate, Do Yoga, Pramayamas and Suryanamaskar: All these mentioned things has been proven to reduce worry and anxiety. Let's go back to the old classics that the legends of our culture discovered that the whole world now follows!
> Do self as well as guided meditations. You can find them on the internet.
>When you sit for meditation don't try to push the thoughts away...let them come and go, the more you push the more they resist.
>Deep Breath in a way that it moves your stomach and diaphragm and not just chest and shoulders.
> Do at least 12-24 Suryanamaskars, And 30- 45 minutes of Yoga. Physical activity, as we all know, is one of the best therapy to fight stress.
Remember that nothing is permanent not even pandemics, this too shall pass. Stay positive and send out positive thoughts.
This on going Pandemic is bad enough for mentally healthy folks, but for the people going through mental health issues such as Anxiety Disorders and OCD this is 10-20 times more stressful and worrisome and may just seem like an endless stream of nightmares!
There are a number of things that one can do to reduce anxiety during this Pandemic.
1. Stay Away From Constant Pandemic News: Reading something constantly can lead to excessive worry and repeated thoughts revolving around a single thing!
> Allot a time in a day where you catch up on the news and only read it from WHO website!
> Avoid reading it right after waking up and before going to bed.
> I understand that pandemic news is literally everywhere including television but just try to take it as a precautionary measure and not a panic boom.
2. Engage In Productive and Creative Activities: Try to spend most of your day in productivity. It's a myth that to be productive you have to be in your workplace! You can be productive in your home as well! Engage in learning something new, be it cooking, learning a new language or a new skill. Knowledge never goes to waste. When you succeed in learning something new it gives you a sense of pride and and a feeling of reward..so basically it's giving out more positive vibes!
> Download language learning apps (read my previous blog for top 5 language learning apps)
>Go on some DIY Instagram profiles and engage in art and craft.
> Learn that thing you always wanted to
3. Talk and Connect with Family/Friends via Phone: Phone has never felt more like a blessing before! Internet, Calling services and literally saving us from the clutches of loneliness now more than ever. Talking is very important as it helps to release your emotions. Built up emotions are more harmful to your mental health than anything else.
> Try to call at least one of your family members or friends everyday! Listen to them and let them listen to you.
4. Create An Uplifting Space Around You: It's really important how your surroundings are! Keep your surrounding area clean and pleasant! Add some crafty decorations and colors around..some fairy lights if available. Create a stimulating environment.This way you can engage in making crafts and decorations an kill time.
> Try to add variety in the crafts and decorations.
> Make use of newspapers, old and new, to make something out of it.
> Have pleasant uplifting music in the background.
And last but definitely not the least,
5. Meditate, Do Yoga, Pramayamas and Suryanamaskar: All these mentioned things has been proven to reduce worry and anxiety. Let's go back to the old classics that the legends of our culture discovered that the whole world now follows!
> Do self as well as guided meditations. You can find them on the internet.
>When you sit for meditation don't try to push the thoughts away...let them come and go, the more you push the more they resist.
>Deep Breath in a way that it moves your stomach and diaphragm and not just chest and shoulders.
> Do at least 12-24 Suryanamaskars, And 30- 45 minutes of Yoga. Physical activity, as we all know, is one of the best therapy to fight stress.
Remember that nothing is permanent not even pandemics, this too shall pass. Stay positive and send out positive thoughts.
