I know what a panic attack feels like.

I’ve been there before.

So the other week, after hours of endless scrolling and non-stop news updates, I found myself feeling…off. Despite all the news, I thought I was handling things well until I wasn’t. Suddenly, I felt dissociated and disconnected from my physical surroundings. “I’ve been here before”, I thought to myself. A rush of anxious thoughts flooded my mind: ⁣⁣⁣
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“How long will the travel industry suffer? What about my job? I’ve worked so hard to get here and now this??” ⁣⁣⁣
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“My chest feels heavy. Is that the rona? Will I wake up tomorrow with it? What if my family gets it? Then what if one of them dies? ⁣⁣⁣
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“How many people will die? What will the world be like after this? What about the homeless, the elderly, the immunocompromised, etc.” ⁣⁣⁣
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In a matter of seconds, my chest felt tight & the world felt dark. At that moment, I whipped out my journal & spilled my thoughts onto the page. I thought I was ok, so where is this coming from? LOL well, I’d spent the entire day consuming constant (bad) news along with thousands of other people’s fears. At this point, I couldn’t even separate how I felt from how others were feeling. I immediately deleted my socials. These days, I know what tools work when anxiety strikes, but it can feel hard to grasp onto them in the midst of a global pandemic.

I say all of this to say that, you may be feeling a lot right now too. If so, that’s completely normal. Your concerns are valid & real, but be mindful of allowing it to consume you for the sake of your mental & physical health. After all, stress has a major effect on our immune systems. Here’s what helped me feel better: ⁣⁣⁣

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Deleting Social Media/Limiting News Consumption ⁣

When this virus was at its peak, I found myself constantly consuming the news - on social media, television, etc. I couldn’t look away. These days? I limit news consumption. I delete social media apps from my phone and only re-download for content creation. This has helped tremendously.

Journaling

Journaling is a daily practice for me, but it’s helped me gain clarity and perspective at this time in particular. Seeing my thoughts on paper really helps to identify when I’m overthinking, focusing on the wrong things, and other gaps/errors in thinking. This brings me to my next point…

Highlighting Facts

Although things were changing, I was catastrophizing & predicting a future that hadn’t arrived.⁣⁣⁣ It’s really easy to feel like its the end of the world, especially when the media is constantly spewing negative news. Don’t forget to look at the bigger picture and focus on what you can control.

Yoga/Physical Activity

Moving my body always makes me feel better. ⁣⁣⁣It’s a practice that has vastly improved my mental health, even when I am out on the road. I never thought I’d be that person that enjoys working out, but here we are.

You can find so many free workouts on Youtube. I love watching Yoga with Adriene! Also, IG Live Is full of free workouts at the moment.

Gratitude & Prayer/Meditation

I know it can seem cliche or even ‘fake deep’ but gratitude is simply life-changing. I highlight 3-5 things that I am grateful for DAILY. Remind yourself of all of the blessings that are present in your life here and now. This immediately lessens those feelings of anxiety about the future. And don’t forget that faith can carry you further than you ever thought.

I personally love using Headspace for Meditation!

The Balance app is also offering a free year-long subscription!

Pick Up A Hobby

As someone who is usually on the go, I suddenly have more time than ever before. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, but if you find yourself with more time on your hands then it may be a good time to pick up a new hobby. Finish that book, take an online class, learn a new skill, plan a future trip, etc. This isn’t about productivity, but simply having something to work on and occupy your mind on a daily basis. I’ve been watercolor painting and reading books that have sat on my ‘to-read’ list for years. This helps to keep my mind busy, which ultimately prevents overthinking.

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I’m sure more feelings will arise as we continue to ride this wave, but this is a reminder to do what you need to cope. This will be different for everyone. How are you coping?