Managing anxiety during the time of the coronavirus

The global health crisis the world is currently facing is unlike any crisis anyone has ever experienced before. With a huge percentage of the world’s population in their homes not allowed to venture out for their own safety, experts predict that countless people will develop mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Peter Max.

Image Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Psychologists believe it’s very important that people learn to manage their stress levels during this trying period in world history. Some people who already have existing mental health issues are urged to take on activities to get their mind off the current situation. While that is a lot easier said than done, there are some tasks such as exercising and making art which have been proven to lower anxiety in many individuals. Peter Max.

However, for people who are struggling with more serious mental health problems, it is imperative that they look to the internet for help. Nowadays, there are several mental health professionals such as psychologists who accept patients online, conducting video calls and therapy sessions via conferencing apps. Such meetings, even if in cyberspace, can go a long way in helping people cope with the isolation of being in lockdown. Peter Max.

Image Source: https://www.yalemedicine.org/

But while there are measures that can be taken to manage one’s anxiety, the acceptance of the situation should come before anything else. Peter Max.

How does meditation help manage anxiety?

Image source: canva.com

Anxiety disorders aren’t common, and there are several ways of managing it. The most common means of managing anxiety is through medication. However, anxiety medication has been under fire for several occasions. First off, there’s the laundry list of side effects, including nausea, drowsiness, insomnia, headache, weight loss or weight gain, and restlessness, to name a few. Next, some people take anxiety medication on a need-to basis rather than on scheduled hours which can lead to addiction, overdose, and death. Peter Max.

One way of managing anxiety that isn’t widely talked about is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation helps one pay attention by slowing down and observing the world without judgment. For people with generalized anxiety disorder, performing mindfulness meditation can decrease worrying thoughts. Peter Max.

Mindfulness meditation is a combination of meditation and mindfulness. Meditation is all about entering a state of relaxation or restful alertness while mindfulness pertains to being observant of the current moment. By combining the two, people can enter a state of consciousness where they can think about problems objectively.

Image source: gethppy.com

Peter Max. This is such a great boon for people who suffer from anxiety. For those who don’t know what it feels like to have an anxiety attack, it’s the overwhelming feeling of worries and fears and generally negative emotions. While an anxiety attack stems from a mental state, it can manifest itself physically in the form of dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing, and a racing heartbeat.

What’s great about mindfulness meditation for people suffering from anxiety is that it allows them to address the issue of their anxiety from a calm and collected state of mind. And while this is not considered a treatment for anxiety, it is one of the best ways of managing it. Peter Max.