Fear of the unknown can become paralyzing. If you focus on things you can’t control, the fear increases. It is totally understandable that work and anxiety is on the rise with all the news reports on illness, deaths, mass closures of schools, travel, sports venues, and most social events. Limit exposure to negativity and fear. As a parent, the calmer you are the better this energy is for you and your family. There are tools and strategies to help you cope that will help manage your anxiety. Consider some of the following listed below.
Begin with the following practices:
- Break yourself away from news and social media. Over consumption will only serve to increase your fear, anxiety, stress and worry.
- Take health precautions as described by the CDC and every news channel currently discussing the way to be safer in your daily life.
- Practice self-soothing techniques such as meditation, prayer, listening to your favorite music, and get good rest.
- Stress will weaken your immune system, so employ distraction, fun, and exercise to reduce physical and emotional stress.
- Change your self-talk and your inner dialogue re-framing negative thoughts and perceptions to positive. For example, reassure yourself to get your mind and body to work together to relax and keep you healthy.
- Practice self-control and self-discipline regarding moving into a panic mode. The hoarding going on is an example of panic setting in from fear. Panic buying is fueled by anxiety which only increases the fear!
In addition to the above-mentioned items, the best advice and approach to consider is the following. Manage the fear, don’t feed it. The unknown is scary, control what you can, your thoughts, actions and let go of the unknown’s.
