Dear Jenna,
I’m freaking out. People are walking around like, “What pandemic?” As if it never happened. They’re not concerned at all anymore it seems. I’m still wearing my mask and wish others would, too. How can I deal with my anxiety about all of this?
– Mad Masker
Hi Mad Masker,
This is such an important question. You’re helping a lot of people by reaching out about this.
The fear you feel that’s amping up your anxiety is not a nice feeling. Part of us wonders why people don’t care about us anymore.
The short answer for this is continue to wear you mask for as long as you want to, keep your distance, stay safe, and practice self-care.
The long answer is that you can still do all of the above but if you believe you have an anxiety disorder, and you’re not just using the word loosely to describe your experience (the overuse of the word is rampant these days) then you also need to address the anxiety. It is a health concern. I urge you to see a doctor or health professional in your area.
I’m not going to ramble off a bunch of Covid statistics or pandemic forecasts like the internet offers because it’s goes a lot deeper than that for each of us. Our emotional journeys through this never-ending story are personal. You are entitled to how you feel about it. We need to respect one another’s level of need for protection and feelings of safety.
It is really important that you can deal with your anxiety. You can do this by practicing mindfulness. Like any other skill, managing your anxiety can be learned and practiced. For example, you can try some of the following strategies:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories about the pandemic and social media.
- Practice deep breathing exercises for ten minutes in the morning and at night before bed.
- Try to focus on things you can control such as your diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and avoiding alcohol and drugs.
- Avoid taking on extra stress by limiting your exposure to people who are not taking physical distancing seriously or engaging in other behaviors that may increase your risk of contracting COVID-19. You don’t have to stop spending time with them altogether—just limit the frequency or duration of visits so they don’t stress you out.
- Talk to someone if you’re feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety—or if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others—by calling a mental health professional. It also helps if there is someone in whom you can confide: trying to keep feelings bottled up inside makes them harder to manage over time.
If you find that your anxiety is not manageable and you’re still struggling, reach out and get help.
If you are struggling with mental health or emotional issues don’t try to handle it alone.
It may be hard to make that first call, but remember that seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness. It shows strength and courage.
You can reach out to your:
- Family doctor – they may have phone appointments open for patients with mental health concerns
- Local community health centre – the staff at these centres can refer you to the appropriate services and supports in your area
- Kids Help Phone (for children and youth) at 1-800-668-6868
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – you can find local CMHA office in your area HERE
Stay safe and keep washing those hands!