Quarantine and Anxiety - Watching the News
Hello everyone,
Once again, I hope that as you read these lines, you are healthy as well as your family and friends. These are very uncertain times and they are causing much anxiety, despair in fear in all of us. In spite of it all, let us stay united by following the orders of our state leaders. Please stay home and only leave if you are considered an essential business or you absolutely need to get groceries. Remember to be careful with what you touch, always wash your hands (20 seconds) and DO NOT touch your face.
Watching the news or not watching the news? That is the question of today's post.
I tried not watching the news thinking that it would cause less anxiety in me, but it was the opposite. I became more stressed thinking about what newest development I was not being aware of. Then, I limited myself to only watching in the morning and evening - but that failed also, because without even thinking, I would find myself perusing the internet and seeing what I could find. For example, right now, I am tempted to look up what is currently going on with the vaccine trials...and it's pointless to do so because vaccine trials take, at least one year to a year and a half, to get developed and then ready for the public.
For some, watching the news provides them with a sense of control because they are souring the internet to get facts. For others, it is a way of seeing if this thing is going away or getting worse. And then, there are others who are getting lost in the "sensational aspect" of it all - let me explain.
You know very well that when you go to the CNN page, you will find, in bold letters, headlines that are very worrysome: UK MINISTER IN ICU - NEW YORK REACHES RECORD DEATHS IN LAST 24 HOURS - STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN JAPAN... you get the idea...
By seeing such headlines, people with anxiety only get more anxious because as much as they want to believe that these news are purely for show, it feeds into their anxiety. Instead of making it better, it gets worse and then, it just goes to that place where you can't come back - and you reach for your medication because you are having a very severe anxiety attack.
So, what can help? First off, try to get to news that inform rather than shock you. Stick only to the facts and don't let yourself get carried into news that will trigger you. For example, as the wife of a healthcare worker, I have stopped watching or reading about spouses losing their spouses, who work on the forefront of it all, because it makes me think - what if I am next? So, stick to the facts, and don't watch or read news that will trigger you because you have a personal connection to them.
Second of all, don't stop watching it! Yes, don't stop watching because you will start to become anxious of what you may be missing. Limit your time and choose carefully where you will get your news from. Don't forget to visit the CDC's website as it provides facts and will not provide and sensational aspect of this horrific virus.
Third, when you reach out to friends or family around you - DO NOT TALK ABOUT THIS VIRUS. Instead, chose this time to have coffee, tea, wine, beer or snacks with them and chat as though you are at the coffee shop or restaurant. How about having a meal together, virtually? This will change your mood and it will make you feel less lonely. Be creative with the use of social media.
Finally, remember that no matter what, this will need to get worse before it gets better. China is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel - but it has been almost four months before they were able to achieve that. Yes, the numbers will rise and it will be scary, but this is the reality of the virus. Don't put it into your head that it will disappear from one day to the next. Be realistic.
These are just the things that have been working for me. They may work differently for you. If you have tips and tricks on how to maintain sanity during these times, please share.
Let's stay united by maintaining social distancing. Keep safe and stay healthy.
SM
Once again, I hope that as you read these lines, you are healthy as well as your family and friends. These are very uncertain times and they are causing much anxiety, despair in fear in all of us. In spite of it all, let us stay united by following the orders of our state leaders. Please stay home and only leave if you are considered an essential business or you absolutely need to get groceries. Remember to be careful with what you touch, always wash your hands (20 seconds) and DO NOT touch your face.
Watching the news or not watching the news? That is the question of today's post.
I tried not watching the news thinking that it would cause less anxiety in me, but it was the opposite. I became more stressed thinking about what newest development I was not being aware of. Then, I limited myself to only watching in the morning and evening - but that failed also, because without even thinking, I would find myself perusing the internet and seeing what I could find. For example, right now, I am tempted to look up what is currently going on with the vaccine trials...and it's pointless to do so because vaccine trials take, at least one year to a year and a half, to get developed and then ready for the public.
For some, watching the news provides them with a sense of control because they are souring the internet to get facts. For others, it is a way of seeing if this thing is going away or getting worse. And then, there are others who are getting lost in the "sensational aspect" of it all - let me explain.
You know very well that when you go to the CNN page, you will find, in bold letters, headlines that are very worrysome: UK MINISTER IN ICU - NEW YORK REACHES RECORD DEATHS IN LAST 24 HOURS - STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN JAPAN... you get the idea...
By seeing such headlines, people with anxiety only get more anxious because as much as they want to believe that these news are purely for show, it feeds into their anxiety. Instead of making it better, it gets worse and then, it just goes to that place where you can't come back - and you reach for your medication because you are having a very severe anxiety attack.
So, what can help? First off, try to get to news that inform rather than shock you. Stick only to the facts and don't let yourself get carried into news that will trigger you. For example, as the wife of a healthcare worker, I have stopped watching or reading about spouses losing their spouses, who work on the forefront of it all, because it makes me think - what if I am next? So, stick to the facts, and don't watch or read news that will trigger you because you have a personal connection to them.
Second of all, don't stop watching it! Yes, don't stop watching because you will start to become anxious of what you may be missing. Limit your time and choose carefully where you will get your news from. Don't forget to visit the CDC's website as it provides facts and will not provide and sensational aspect of this horrific virus.
Third, when you reach out to friends or family around you - DO NOT TALK ABOUT THIS VIRUS. Instead, chose this time to have coffee, tea, wine, beer or snacks with them and chat as though you are at the coffee shop or restaurant. How about having a meal together, virtually? This will change your mood and it will make you feel less lonely. Be creative with the use of social media.
Finally, remember that no matter what, this will need to get worse before it gets better. China is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel - but it has been almost four months before they were able to achieve that. Yes, the numbers will rise and it will be scary, but this is the reality of the virus. Don't put it into your head that it will disappear from one day to the next. Be realistic.
These are just the things that have been working for me. They may work differently for you. If you have tips and tricks on how to maintain sanity during these times, please share.
Let's stay united by maintaining social distancing. Keep safe and stay healthy.
SM
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