Note: This article is partly adapted from my free, ad-free blog on surviving cancer and embracing life: http://survivingcancerembracinglife.com/2020/03/23/handling-anxiety-in-difficult-times/
Not long ago, my 37-year-old daughter asked me if I had ever seen anything like this pandemic in my lifetime. My response was an emphatic NO!! This is the most widespread and anxiety-provoking health crisis that I have ever seen. Most of us could never imagine a worldwide crisis that has put many of us in stay-at-home status. And threatens the world’s economies.
As a high-risk person, I know from my own situation how anxiety-provoking this pandemic can be. Especially now that millions of us are in isolation — either totally alone or staying with a limited number of family members. And with little outside contact, given all of the business, school, entertainment venue, and other shutdowns. Unfortunately, this looks like our living arrangements for a while.
I am a pancreatic cancer survivor with Type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis, and more. Like most of you, I have been in deep quarantine. And I have to fight my own anxieties. I do this by writing, face timing my adult kids, going for the occasional walk when the weather is right, and staying in touch with my friends. Since I was born and bred in NYC, I pray a lot for those who live there — as well as those who live throughout the rest of the U.S. and the world.
So, I did some research and found two terrific articles on the subject of anxiety. These articles include graphics. Please check them out.
Business Intelligence published an article titled “How Increased Social Distancing for the Coronavirus Could spur a Loneliness Epidemic.” This article points out the role of insurers moving forward.
Elissa Kozlov, a licensed clinical psychologist and instructor at Rutgers University, discusses strategies for taking care of your mental health while staying at home (at Futurity.org). This article has a lot of tips.