A once in a lifetime global pandemic. That is the reality that we are living in. This has made life difficult for everyone but for those of us with anxiety, the challenge of a global pandemic can be especially difficult.
So what happens when our fears become justified? An anxious brain views the world through thorn covered glasses. Danger is very easy to see, and the world looks like a threat and it will hurt us. An anxious brain says “Don’t go outside”. COVID-19 has taught us in a large part, “Do not go outside”. The anxious brain says “Don’t go see friends and family, they don’t like you”. COVID has taught us “Don’t go see your friends and family, it is not safe”. Disease and sickness are a scary part of life. Anxiety can make us feel hypersensitive to fear, disease included.
Whether it is social anxiety or health anxiety, COVID has had a definite impact on individuals that experience anxiety. When it comes to individuals with social anxiety, we typically encourage folks with social anxiety disorder to go out there, get in public, meet people, do things to safely expose themselves in a controlled way, and due to the state of the world, that's been pretty limited with COVID.
When it comes to health anxiety or individuals with OCD, the behaviors that are commonly recommended to keep the general public safe like washing of hands or sanitizing frequently touched surfaces can be taken to an extreme. The perceived and actualized threat of the pandemic can be a huge form of added stress for individuals coping with anxiety.
Covid-19 and the subsequent global pandemic add a layer of anxiety to everyday life. COVID-19 essentially reinforces beliefs about isolation. When the world actually presents itself with more danger than “normal” it can be difficult to measure rational and irrational responses. With any anxiety disorder, the behaviors are not always irrational or unfounded in reason. The issue exists as anxiety being a response or over alertness to potential dangers and the actions that some may view as irrational are viewed as protective in nature. But suddenly those with anxiety are thrust in a situation where a lot of those behaviors are being reinforced. What happens when someone who sees the world as a scary place, wakes up to monsters under the bed and around the corner?
It is important to remember that all hope is not lost. While the pandemic and COVID-19 have led to an increase in stress across the board, there are things that we can do to help. One tool in our toolbelt is our ability to focus on aspects of life that we can and do have control over. We can control whether we wear a mask. We can choose to get the vaccine, we can choose to exercise and eat healthy. All of these factors within our control can help lessen the stress and anxiety of COVID-19 on individuals with anxiety.
If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, remember to show compassion to others and yourself, the pandemic is difficult to navigate, no matter who you are. If your anxiety truly feels out of control, reach out to Niyyah Counseling to schedule a session with one of our amazing therapists.