What to do if you’re anxious about coronavirus

Topics mentioned: anxiety, self-care

About: If the current news on coronavirus (COVID-19) is making you feel anxious, concerned or stressed, here are some things you can do.

Feeling concerned or overwhelmed by the news is understandable, especially if you are struggling with your mental health or you have a physical illness. It might be that you’re anxious about your own health, the health of someone in your family, or what impact the virus will have on your life. Here are some steps you can take if you are feeling anxious:

While it is normal to feel worried, if you are starting to feel overwhelmed, it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and speak to someone you trust, whether that’s a friend, a family member, a teacher or a helpline.

There is a lot of information about the virus out there and false reports can fuel anxiety. Stay on top of what’s happening by using the government website; it is the most up-to-date and reliable source of information. The NHS coronavirus page can also be useful if you are worried about symptoms or family members.

You might see stories or posts on social media that make you feel anxious. It can be very hard to know whether or not social media posts are true, so try not to rely on updates from there.

If you are feeling scared or panicked by coronavirus, remind yourself that there are practical things you can do.

There is lots of advice about this on the NHS website.

You might feel anxious about this advice because it might trigger compulsive thoughts and unhelpful behaviours to do with washing and hygiene. If this happens to you, please talk to someone you trust about it. You could ask them to help you, and let people around you know what you find helpful and what you don't. 

It can also help to have a few gentle and regular reminders up your sleeve if you start to feel anxious about washing or hygiene. Remember this advice is about caring for yourself and others, but there is a limit to what you can do – so whatever happens, try to be kind to yourself.  

Staying informed can make you feel in control but the constant news reports could also become overwhelming. Try to get your information from reputable websites (like those we’ve mentioned above).

If you do want to read or watch the news, try to limit the amount of time you spend and stick to regular intervals in the days. If you are finding it hard not to think about the news, try to plan some activities that you enjoy and which will take your mind off things, such as:

• texting or facetiming a friend
• watching a film
• reading a book
• going for a walk

Read the latest government guidance on leaving your home.

Do take a break from social media if you feel like the updates are getting too much. Remember you are in control of what you see on your feed. Take breaks when you do feel like things are getting too much or mute and unfollow accounts that make you feel more worried. For more advice and tips on looking after your mental health on social media, check out our page.

It's likely that you've been asked by your school, college or workplace to stay at home for a period of time. If you are living at home, talk to your family about this and share your feelings with them, if you can. We understand that this could be quite a daunting prospect, but try to think of this as a chance to live in a different way for a while. Think about what you might want to do during this time, how you will stay connected and how you would prioritise your wellbeing.

Planning might help reduce any anxiety or troubling thoughts. With so much uncertainty in the news, creating a routine you stick to can really help maintain a sense of structure and normality. Try to find time in your routine for activities that help you feel calm.

Like at any other time, it’s important that you are not only looking after your physical health, but your mental health too. Think about some activities that can help when you are feeling overwhelmed, like breathing techniques, writing down how you feel, playing music or talking to a friend. For some ideas, have a look at how you can make a self-soothe box, or these coping techniques.

Often things that distract you will help ease feelings of anxiety, but try to avoid turning to stimulants like cigarettes or alcohol which can leave you feeling worse.

The Government is now advising everybody to ‘self-isolate’ where possible. Self-isolation means staying away from other people to prevent the potential spread of illness. The Government have guidelines on their website on how to do this.

Here are some tips for coping with self-isolation:

You may find that you need extra support, so think about who you can turn to. It could be someone you know, or a helpline that you can talk to about how you might be feeling.

For more tips on dealing with self-isolation, have a look at our blog on looking after your mental health while self-isolating.