11 Months with Pandemic Challenges Still Remain
2020 has been a difficult year for all of us; our lives have changed drastically. It has been almost a year since the COVID-19 pandemic first started and we have used to the new world. However, being used to doesn’t necessarily mean not being affected. COVID-19 and its concomitants have a profound impact on us, both physiologically and psychologically. Global pandemics like COVID-19 are periods of intense uncertainty and despair; because we cannot know when it will end and whether we will get infected or not.
Managing Uncertainty
Managing uncertainty is not our strongest side since all human beings need certainty to feel secure and safe. Thus, when we are faced with an uncertain situation we feel threatened. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we experience uncertainty for:
If we fail to manage these uncertainties in a healthy and functional way, anxiety, stress, sleep and eating problems will follow.
Apart from these, COVID-19 pandemic influences our daily and social lives as well. A study conducted in 10 different European counties revealed that, during pandemic individuals experience:
What we can do about these?
Even though, we all know and experience these problems for months, this doesn’t eliminate their impacts automatically.
We all have trouble being physically active and it feels almost impossible to do things other than our absolute responsibilities. On Mondays, we decide to eat healthier or start doing exercises but the next day we find ourselves sitting on the couch with a pack of chips. That’s why we will start with small and easy but effective ways to manage stress and anxiety.
The most important thing here is that once you become less anxious and stress, you will find it easier to be more active and follow your goals.
For more detailed information about COVID-19 anxiety and coping skills, these videos that our team loved:
Author
Deniz Akdeniz (Psychologist)
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