People all over the world are forced to stay at home as part of the response to the pandemic. Unfortunately, prolonged isolation has a big impact on one’s mental health.

Even if feelings of anxiety and stress are normal during this pandemic, it doesn’t mean that you should not take it seriously. Luckily, there are treatments like CBD extract options available in the market to help those who suffer from stress and anxiety experience relief.

There are also some things you can do to get rid of such feelings and these include the following

1. Staying Connected

Everyone is recommended to practice social distancing, which comes with some risks. Since humans are social animals, people are hardwired for connection. Loneliness and isolation may exacerbate depression and anxiety. It can even impact one’s physical health. This is the reason why it is essential to stay connected to reach out for support and experience stress relief.

Below are some of the tips to stay connected:

• Use social media; it’s a powerful tool not just to connect with family, friends, and acquaintances, but also to feel connected to the world. With social media, it will always remind you that you’re not alone in this pandemic.
• While you can’t visit your loved ones personally, you can try video chatting instead. This can benefit your mental health as face-to-face contact acts like your vitamin, which can help ease anxiety and stress.
• When having conversations with your loved ones, try to avoid topics about the pandemic, especially if it’s causing you a lot of stress. Try to discuss other things to laugh and share some stories about your day-to-day activities.

2. Limit Your Media Consumption

Your anxiety may worsen if you will always tune into different media stories that discuss the pandemic and how many people died or got sick. The best solution to this is to reduce being on social media to a particular time frame.

While it is beneficial to stay informed, it is also essential that you don’t let yourself be bombarded with anxiety-provoking articles or news all day.

3. Don’t Forget To Acknowledge Your Feelings

Let yourself express what you are feeling. It can be through talking with others, channeling your emotions to something creative, and journaling. You can also consider mindfulness meditation exercises to help you stay grounded in the middle of an emotional storm. With this, you will learn to let your feelings and thoughts come and go without getting overwhelmed.

4. Exercise On A Regular Basis

With social distancing guidelines, all gyms are closed. But, it is still possible for you to enjoy aerobic exercises such as running, walking or playing with your pets or kids. All of these can release endorphins, which are the natural substances that help people maintain a positive attitude and feel better.

There are also exercises you can perform in your home. You can try yoga or do stretching. These can calm your mind, which can help you deal with anxiety and stress effectively.

5. Avoid Common Thinking Traps

With the current pandemic, there are things you can’t control, but there are also things you do for yourself and your loved ones. One of these is to avoid some common thinking traps that will just worsen your stress or anxiety. Such common thinking traps like believing in myths or fake news that can be misleading and might hinder you from focusing on positive things and facts only.

6. Keep Your Daily Routine And Activities If Possible

With a healthy daily routine, it can have a positive impact on your feelings and thoughts. You can think of your usual activities that you might not be able to do because of your work. If possible, make a conscious shift to concentrate on the activities that you can do. Some of the things you can do everyday may include:

• Listening to a podcast
• Reading a book
• Studying various things related to your work or interests
• Gardening

7. Have A Healthy Diet

Stress can affect both your metabolism and eating habits. A good way to combat your emotional eating and stress is to be mindful of what triggers your stress eating and to be prepared to deal with the urge. If you’re somebody who’s prone to emotional eating, make sure that you know what triggers it and what stresses you often.

Having some healthy snacks on hand can help you nourish your body and arm yourself with good nutrition to deal with your anxiety and stress. Regulating your blood sugar daily can keep your body and emotions stable.

8. Get Enough Rest And Sleep

Due to the ever-changing news, it can cause a lot of stress to many people, which may also result in insomnia and other sleep concerns. If you want to manage your stress and anxiety effectively, you should get the right amount of sleep. This will not just give you relaxation, but also it can help you focus on your work or daily activities.

Before going to bed, avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. If you are too stressed to sleep, you can create a pre-bedtime routine like taking a bath or drinking a cup of herbal tea or try drinking milk. Planning for your activities in the morning can also help you alleviate your stress and be prepared for whatever to come.

9. Ask For Help From A Mental Health Expert

If you think you can’t reach out to a mental health expert because of the guidelines to stay at home, there are professionals who offer online services. You can reach out to them if you think you can’t handle your stress or anxiety by yourself. With this, you will be guided with what you should do or what you must avoid to experience relief and be optimistic during this pandemic.

Conclusion

It is normal to feel anxious and stressed due to pandemic. Fortunately, there are some ways on how to deal with anxiety and stress. Staying connected while being proactive with everything can make a difference in your mental health, especially during this time of uncertainty.

However, if you fail to manage your stress or anxiety, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Licensed mental health experts can help you fight against your negative feelings while empowering you to make wise decisions not just for yourself, but also to your family and friends.