COVID-19 & Me | Anxiety Tips

ByJordann @thebookbloglife

I need to preface this blog post with I am not a doctor and you should always seek medical advice if you are really struggling but I have tried to ignore this whole thing and can’t so thought I would vent on here and give you all some of my tips!

Just a bit of background but I live on a small island where thankfully we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 yet, the government over here after a lot of indecisiveness has started to put lockdown, isolation and social distancing procedures in place which are all fantastic and I support 100%. Despite all of this we are a tiny population and are all working off the assumption that it’s a when not an if when COVID-19 descends and I cannot help but feel nothing but anxiety about it. I am an asthma sufferer and a chesty cold will knock me sideways but this is my worst nightmare.

So I haven’t been the greatest to be around, I have been grouchy and irritable, emotional and just an all-round mess if I’m completely honest. But for now, my life has to keep moving forward, I still have to work and move past it. I could tell you that being really grateful that we haven’t got any confirmed cases is enough but I would be lying. It almost feels like impending doom, and I feel like I’m constantly looking over my shoulder waiting for the horror to step in. I am SO grateful beyond grateful we don’t have any cases but my anxiety just will not settle.

So I’m trying to be good to myself and look after myself by practicing self-care and making sure that I don’t spiral too much which I know is way more difficult than just the tips I have put below.

Reading

I thought I would get the obvious one out of the way. I am a huge reader and reading has got me through a lot of bad times and is the way that I end up calming myself down. I have changed my reading a little the last couple of weeks and tried to pick up more fantasy and light-hearted reads. Anything that takes my focus away from everything that’s going on around the world.

I have picked up The Goldfinch and I think that was a little bit of a mistake with it being a little darker and deeper than what I was planning for but I think the act of reading is doing me more good than worrying about what I’m reading.

Writing

I have yet again abandoned the novel that I won NaNoWriMo 19 with but I have started writing my own again. Which I thought would be the last thing I would want to do, you know too much pressure but actually, it gives me more of escapism than panic of extra, it feels as though I’m being productive rather than freaking out about everything and sitting nothing.

I have started writing something I’m really enjoying and I’m letting that take over. I don’t know where it will end up but for now, it’s making all the difference where this pandemic is concerned.

Baths or hot showers

This is something I do when I am beginning to get overwhelmed with everything going on around me. I like to either sit in the bath with a good book or a movie and forget the world around me. If I don’t have time to sit and completely relax in a bath the shower is just as good.

I love turning the heat up and having it literally wash away the tension and the stress of the day. I give myself a lovely head massage when washing my hair and take great cares to wash my face and complete a skincare routine and really make an effort to take care of myself.

Walking the dog

This one isn’t one I’m great at but it is one that I really should try to do more of because it really does make a difference to my feelings and I love being on the outside. The island where I live is a beautiful place and there are some really lovely places to walk and experience. Plus my dog really loves going on these runs and she’s always knackered which is a great thing especially when she wants to sleep for the entire time.

Cry/Talk it out

I think this one is really important. This only happens when none of the things above seems to help. I sit with my husband, and I think that’s important to note I never sit and cry alone. We talk it all through and he lets me vent and worry about my concerns and we deconstruct the problems one by one. Sometimes there was a solution and sometimes there isn’t but it always feels better to talk these things through.

Chat with me about books

How are you guys feeling about everything? Do you have any tips for those moments where things seem to get too much? Let me know!

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11 Comments

  1. I like this post and how all of us can connect in some ways to what you are doing to cope with the isolation. Mine is enforced by the staff where I live: a senior residential facility. Until this happened, I was able to come and go independently, and I miss that opportunity.

    We also met in a dining room for meals, and in recent months, I was enjoying that. But I must admit that I hated getting up and going there every day. Forced socializing? Not for this introvert.

    So now that I’m “locked down” in my apartment, just as all residents are, I am thrilled at the chance to lounge around alone, reading and blogging and binge-watching movies and shows. But I will love getting out there again…someday. That may be months from now, of course…sigh.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    Reply

  2. Thanks for sharing your fears and coping technics, I think we can all use reminders of what might help when the stress really sets in. I’m glad to hear you’re safe for now, and I hope it stays that way. My poor state is on lockdown and is currently one of the hardest hit areas, so I’m terrified. My work shut down so I’m staying home for now, which I’m grateful for. Take care!

    Reply

    1. Unfortunately, we have been hit but it’s still early days but it’s spreading quickly. I don’t think it’ll be long until we’re in lockdown.

      Reply

  3. You are so not alone at all. I am not only a hypochondriac, but I’ve suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember. We have I think 20 cases where I live, but it’s a bigger city so that isn’t much. I’m so blessed that my SO and parents and friends have been supportive. I’ve been blogging more, working on book photos for Instagram and now I’m planning to read more. Luckily, I can work from home.

    I’ve been trying to do more yoga and fitness at home which has really helped! The crying is a big one — I’m bad for starting to cry but not wanting to let it out. But my SO has been really supportive, letting me just cry when I feel scared or worried. So you are definitely not alone. Thinking of positive things has also helped! For instance, the pollution has decreased in a lot of parts of the world and there’s been more animal sightings in areas! Also, a guy in my condo is a DJ so he did a show outside so we could have a balcony party (our city has basically shut down most places that they can, enforcing self-isolation).

    If you ever want to chat, shoot me a message! <3

    Reply

  7. I was expecting to read and write much more than before the quarantine but that hasn’t been the case. I’ve just been to anxious. When I’m calm, my husband gets frustrated and angry at the people around us in Banaglore, India. And vice versa.

    Reply

    1. I was the same. I thought it was going to be SO productive but it just hasn’t happened. It’s a catch-22. Fingers crossed it starts to ease a little.

      Reply

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