If you are feeling anxious and stressed about the COVID-19 outbreak, you are not alone – many people are experiencing higher than normal stress and anxiety levels right now. Here are six tips for coping with the COVID-19 epidemic and helping to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Breathe deeply: Relieve stress through slow, deep breathing. Take five slow, deep breaths right now and feel yourself calm down.
- Practice staying in the present moment: Worrying will not change or help the situation; try meditation or guided imagery.
- Use cognitive-behavioral skills: Remember, how you think affects how you feel and how you behave. If you are having a negative thought (e.g., “I might get the COVID-19 virus and get really sick.”), change it to a positive (e.g., “I will stay healthy by taking good self-care and practicing good infection control practices.”). Repeat these positive thinking statements several times a day.
- Stay active: Physical activity can help relieve stress. Even short walks can help.
- Talk to someone: Tell a family member or friend how you are feeling. If fears and anxiety begin to interfere with your functioning, please consider contacting a professional counseling service (search here: Psychology Today).
- Practice good infection control practices: Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough with your elbow or with a tissue that you immediately throw away, eliminate hand-shaking and practice social distancing – at least six feet of space between other people. Monitor your health and fill out your Daily UF Health Assessment form.
Adopted from The Ohio State University Health and Wellness website. 2020. Accessed at wellness.osu.edu/story/covid-19-faculty-staff. Retrieved 10 Sept. 2020.
For more information and resources on how to cope with Covid-related stress, please see the following articles:
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Please visit the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Information web page for up-to-date information regarding the UF’s response to COVID-19.