From Sharp Health News, a publication of Sharp HealthCare
Though experiencing some anxiety can be a healthy response in certain situations, anxiety can also leave us feeling fearful of reengagement with the world around us. Try these six tips to cope with your ‘new normal’ anxiety:
- Normalize what you’re feeling. It’s OK to feel some anxiety if you miss work-from-home routines, such as having pets around, or as you enter an in-office experience that is more restricted and regulated than it was pre-COVID. Reminding yourself of this is a great step in normalizing the emotions that may come up.
- Be kind to yourself. Criticizing yourself or thinking “I shouldn’t feel this way” often increases how anxious you feel. Try to reframe your thoughts and emotions. Allow yourself the space to say, “I don’t feel good enough, but I’m doing the best I can given the resources I have.”
- Be present. Anxiety can leave you feeling stressed, overwhelmed or uneasy about the future. Engaging in activities that anchor you to the present moment can help decrease anxiety. Draw your attention to what you have control over today.
- Breathe with intention. Focusing on your breathing is something you can do anywhere and can have a positive impact on anxiety levels. Deep breathing involves taking slow, deep breaths in through the nose, letting the chest expand with air, and slowly releasing it out through the mouth.
- Continue positive routines. You may have established new routines to help you through the pandemic. Explore which you would like to continue. Consider things that helped you feel calm, invoked positive feelings about yourself, or you just had a fun time with, and maintain them or modify them as needed.
- If you feel like your anxiety is becoming too overwhelming, seek support. Remind yourself that it’s OK to ask for help. Having the support of friends and family can help to reinforce that you don’t have to go through this experience alone. And a mental health provider can provide you with a safe space to explore your mental health and learn new coping skills.
The VEBA Resource Center offers Restorative Yoga for Stress Management. Learn different techniques (breathing, relaxation, mindfulness and restorative poses) to help manage the cumulative effects of stress and support overall health. Check out our calendar to sign up for an upcoming class.
