A Distress to The Whole World
Ever since the virus has spread to almost every part of the world, this tragic situation has caused distress and fear to most of us.
If you’re one of those people who feel immensely scared by the agonizing current events – especially those in locations with a worse condition – how you feel is a normal response of the neurons of our brains.
It is our survival mechanism.
Knowing that if you ever get infected, you can transmit the virus to the one closest person to you – be it your lifetime partner, your mom, your dad, your child, someone you truly care about or be it the most innocent stranger you come across with.
And if lucky enough to know in advance that you get the chance to stay away from them, you have to isolate yourself and face the fact that you have to deal with it alone.
COVID-19 should not be underestimated so most countries have implemented urgent rules and requisites.
“STAY AT HOME…”
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And as you stay at home, you see all the despairing events of the virus in your social media feeds, you hear the endless news of the subject on radio or Television.
You can’t help it sometimes but ruminate or even panic.
Feeling fear is neither abnormal nor a sign of weakness. In fact, a lack of fear may be a sign of serious brain damage.
So, instead of trying to repress your emotions, let’s focus on how to handle it the right way.
Let’s start with why fear is one of the greatest enemies of our health.
Fear Can Decrease the Immune System and Worsen The Spread of The Virus
If a poor physical health can negatively impact on mental health, so as the other way around.
A poor mental health can lead to an increased risk of developing physical health problems.
The second one is even riskier.
Physical health can be dealt with, with a good mindset.
Mostly, people have recovered even the worst illnesses because of their good emotional and mental condition.
But with poor mental health, not only can it affect your physical but every part of you as they are all connected to the brain.
The emotions of fear can result in poor immune system – which can result in a higher risk of getting infected by the dreadful virus.
“Fear weakens our immune system and can cause cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and decreased fertility. It can lead to accelerated aging and even premature death.”
Sue Towey, RN, CNS, MS, LP
Trying to Get Rid of Fear Will Only Cause More Fear
Trying to repress or avoid any emotion will only amplify the feeling.
When you try to stop yourself from getting angry, you get even angrier.
When you stop yourself from liking someone, you fall for them even more.
When you try not to be afraid, it’ll grow within you.
Invalidating emotions or trying to stop yourself from feeling anything will never work.
Why?
Because what you focus on will expand.
“We will win this battle…”
When you tell yourself, “I shouldn’t be afraid.”, “I can’t be afraid.”, “I shouldn’t feel this.”, you are still focusing on being afraid.
What you should do is accept the fact that you are afraid, feel your feelings, and then you can shift your focus on the other side…
When you tell yourself, “I have faith in God.”, “I am brave and I can manage to keep myself and others safe.” notice yourself slowly expanding that mindset.
How to Handle Fear and Anxiety Basically And Evidently The Right Way
Productivity and setting ongoing goals are fear eliminators.
Inaction feeds fear. Action eliminates fear.
Make a list of activities that are good for your mind and body, such as running early in the morning and reading books or anything that keeps you alive and active.
Setting an ongoing goal will also keep you distracted away from thoughts of stagnancy caused by the feelings of being stuck at home.
Set goals that you can go on for days and weeks, such as making a garden and planting seeds on one lane per day, or reading a book one chapter a day, or learning to cook one recipe per day, or learning the basic guitar chords one song per day – anything that you want to achieve by daily steps.
By these daily steps, you will have something to look forward to and would unlikely be prone to overthinking.
Being At The Present Moment
One of the main cures to any fear – anxiety, depression, worries – is the present moment.
Why does being at the present moment always work?
I’m not talking about being at the present moment with your life situation.
I’m talking about where you exactly at right now, what you’re doing at the moment (obviously reading this), how you feel at the moment, the events around you, not an hour ago or the next 7 minutes, but right now here in this moment reading these words – the now.
If I ask you if you have any problem with your life situation, probably you do. We all do because of the law of polarity; If there are blessings, there are also tribulations and both are inevitable.
Now, if I ask you if you have a major problem at this very moment, in the now, is there any?
I doubt that. If there were any, you wouldn’t be reading this blog by now because you’re busy facing them.
One of life’s secrets to be happy is to practice and master the now, the very present moment.
Fear exists in the mind (the past and future), but it’ll never survive in the present moment.
If you feel fear, let it be a reminder that you are not living in the present moment.
Bonus
“What If’s”
Everyday, the moment I wake up early in the morning, I read Melody Beattie’s daily meditation.
I would like to share with you some of her powerful words to live by.
This is an excerpt from the book The Language of Letting Go, page 148-149 entitled “Letting Go of Worry: March 25.”
Disclaimer: I don’t own these short meditations, Melody Beattie does. Some texts of the excerpt from the book are edited in this blog post for the purpose of syncing the message to the main subject.
My friend, these will be your daily “what if’s”…
What if… we knew for certain that everything we’re worried about today will work out just fine?
What if… we had a guarantee that the problem we’re facing today would be worked out in the most perfect way, and at the best possible time?
What if… we knew that a year from now we’d be grateful for that problem and its solution?
What if… we had a guarantee that everything that’s happening in our world today was meant to be, planned for us, in our best interest to heal the earth and be again one with nature?
What if… we knew the future was going to be good, and we would have an abundance of resources and guidance to handle whatever comes our way?
What if… we knew that even our worst fear would work out for the best?
What if… we knew that we didn’t have to worry about a thing?
What would we do then?
We’d be free.
We’d be in peace.
I have never heard of these mantras before nor the author but it is an interesting theory that these might help us overcome fear. i sometimes wonder if the ‘what ifs’ are not what set us back often enough.
It was perfect the first time. I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post. https://www.gmdrecipes.com/
I have to say that your article means a lot me because I been struggling with anxiety due to the covid19. I work in the public sector and my job requires me to see people daily. I always have intrusive thoughts about bringing back the virus home to my family. But I am taking one day at the time and I know we will go through it.
A wise person once said, “The only thing to fear, is fear itself.” – FDR. There are many things that can potential give us fear, covid-19 aside. I like the ideas that you had to mitigate that fear. Action is key!
The fear can affect in other ways as well. Stigma does not only impact people who are sick, but extends to people who have an actual or perceived association with a disease. Family members of people with disease and healthcare providers caring for people with disease are at high risk of experiencing stigma from others during epidemics.
Can we all stop listening to people yelling on the boob-tube? All they do is invoke fear about the pandemic. LOve you real talk in this post.
Fear can be so difficult to cope with, especially for people who live on their own and have noone to talk to. I really like all these tips, especially all the helpful sentences you can tell yourself such as “I am brave and I can manage to keep myself and others safe.” Thank you !!!
I think we should emulate what other countries have done such as Germany, Taiwan, Singapore and New Zealand. They have done a fantastic job in responding to COVID-19 and also giving an assurance to public that it is containable.