Anxiety Can Be Just As Contagious As The Coronavirus

When a family becomes stressed, everyone feels anxious. The anxiety moves easily from person to person in the family. Anxiety that affects one, affects all. It can be contagious. Our country and our community is in the midst of a great deal of panic and anxiety with the pandemic of the Coronavirus. We are bombarded daily with the updates on this illness and how it is spreading. We are hearing about daily closures and cancellations such as the New York Marathon, the New York Auto Show, St Patrick’s Day Parade, school closures, just to name a few. Are we making ourselves sick from the worry of this virus? I would say yes. Is it a real threat to us and our families? I would say yes. Certainly, the anxiety makes sense and is normal under these circumstances.

In order to manage our anxiety regarding the coronavirus, we have to trust that our medical community and the communities in which we live are doing what they can to stop further spread. That being said, it is important for us to rely on the facts and make every effort to remain calm and non-reactive. We can take responsibility for ourselves and practice good hygiene, remain home if we are feeling sick, use regular hand washing, avoid large crowds or being around someone we know has been sick. This is all we can control. We cannot control much else. Accepting the fact that we have no control other than being mindful of how we protect ourselves, can relieve a lot of anxiety. We have a part to play in this and it is our job to take good care of ourselves.

For some with post-traumtatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or other forms of debilitating anxiety, coronavirus is a growing mental health threat. Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the US. It can cause physical and psychological symptoms. The fear of the coronavirus has crippled so many. Worrying about the coronovirus can lead to illness. Therefore, let’s take ownership for our own well being and be extremely vigilant in our self care. We need to take care of our immune system and treat ourselves with extra care and attention. We can teach this to our children and do it without fear. As said earlier, anxiety spreads and we do not want to spread this anxiety to our children.

Do something that soothes you whether it’s taking a walk, reading a good book, or journaling. Limit how often you watch the news. Redirect yourself to something you enjoy. You can watch a funny movie with your family …. laughter is healing.

If you find that you cannot manage the anxiety, seek professional treatment during this time as it can be most helpful. You can think of it as a temporary solution while the pandemic is in full force.

When you can reduce your own anxiety, you will notice a significant difference within your family members. When you become less reactive, there are less symptoms and the family is freer to be the best it can be.

At the Hellenic Therapy Center, 567 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains, New Jersey, we have a team of professionals who can help you work through anxiety. We provide individual, family and couple therapy. For further information call 908-322-0112 or visit www.hellenictherapy.com We are available day, evening and weekend hours.