EspañolAnxiety, Confinement and COVID-19
Anxiety, Confinement and COVID-19
We know that we are currently in a period of great uncertainty and have experienced a great change in our lives in terms of our loss of freedom of movement, our social environment and our daily routine among others.
All these changes are now more than enough to consider the great emotional instability that is present in each of us today.
As has happened throughout history with the different pandemics and wars that have occurred, today we find ourselves in a state of alert that has unexpectedly changed our lives overnight. This requires a period of adaptation that will take more or less time at home as well as generate more or less discomfort.
The pandemic COVID 19 and royal decree of State of Alarm decreed in Spain and extended this decree in the vast majority of other countries, has made develop in a large part of the population, symptoms of anxiety and depression among others. All these symptoms are part of the “normal” process of adaptation in which we are all involved.
However, in people with previous problems of anxiety and depression or with a history of them this emergency situation that the whole world is living, our alert system is triggered and that is why we can all be in a state of continuous survival.
Throughout these first days, and in reference to our professional experience, we have found different reactions to the current situation. From people who have been surprised because their anxiety has not gone further and have even been able to understand and support their environment, because many present symptoms of anxiety for the first time due to the alarm situation and they present in many cases, a long experience with the anxious symptomatology.
On the other hand, I have also found people where the previous level of anxiety has shot up exponentially, entering into an obsession or panic in many cases regarding the coronavirus or regarding confinement.
Taking into account all the reactions present, both in people who would not have presented symptoms of anxiety before and those who continue to present anxiety as a condition they brought previously, with variations in the intensity of it, we will review what we can do to manage the anxiety presented:
- Identify emotions such as fear, loneliness, anguish, frustration and lack of control. As far as possible, share these emotions with the people who live with us. In case of being alone, share with our environment through a video call or a phone call.
- Self-care
- Establish a routine of hygiene habits, rest, food, physical exercise and recreation.
- Avoid over-information and abuse of the use of social networks.
- Make a list of people important to you and keep in touch with them telematically.
- Continue with psychological therapy in case of people who were already attending before, as it is important to be able to continue with the work done so far or start psychological therapy in the case of people who have not had previous symptoms of anxiety to cushion the impact of the current situation.
- Contingency plan
- Define steps to be taken in case of emergency to increase the sense of control: finances, medications, know symptoms COVID 19, shopping plan with essential items.
- In your daily life, we can make a list of activities that make you feel good and take an activity every day.
- Relaxation exercises, for example, 6 seconds of inhalation, 3 seconds of holding air and 9 seconds of exhalation.
- The alert and anxiety system is put into action in the face of a situation of risk or real danger but it is important to be able to manage the symptoms presented, as this anxiety, maintained over time, can weaken our immune system and can also lead to more serious anxiety disorders that will need more help.
At Hallin Mental Care we advise and recommend professional help to cushion the impact of the emergency situation we are going through.
If you prefer not to call us. Please feel free to use the provided contact form, fill in all the information you can, we will be in contact with you as soon as possible. Best regards.
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | 9:00 - 21:00 |
| Saturday and Sunday | Emergency |