Navigating New Anxiety Amid COVID-19
| 3 min read
Dr. Kristyn Gregory, D.O., is a medical director of behavioral health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Dr. Gregory received her medical degree from the Chicago School of Osteopathic Medicine. She then completed residency training in Adult Psychiatry at Henry Ford, and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Wayne State University. She is board-certified in Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has practiced in a variety of settings in the metro Detroit area including inpatient, residential, outpatient, school-based and juvenile justice programs.
- Changes in sleeping or eating behaviors
- Difficulty focusing
- Fear about:
- Loss of daily support services we may rely on
- Personal health or health of loved ones
- Personal financial situations
- Increased use of tobacco, alcohol or other substances
- Worsening of chronic or mental health problems
Managing Anxiety Effectively
- Address anxiety quickly: The first step is acknowledging anxiety before it turns into anger. As feelings of anxiety or frustration arise, try distancing from the situation and re-centering with slow, deep breaths. Individuals should also discuss their feelings with loved ones to help release tension.
- Eliminate distractions: Start by reducing tasks to the most essential ones. Writing a list of things that need to be done the next day can be beneficial, as well as ranking them by importance and urgency. Staying informed is critical during a pandemic but minimizing news consumption is beneficial as well. Try to strike a healthy balance between staying informed and limiting stressful information.
- Prioritize sleep: Promote good sleep by keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet. Manage screen time throughout the day by taking regular breaks and staying active. One hour of screen-free time before bed is recommended.
- Stay social: Helping others and volunteering is a great stress reliever. While practicing pandemic social distancing, phone calls and video chats can help individuals stay connected to friends and family members. Balance social time with self-care for both mind and body.
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