Experts Revealed How To Fight Anxiety And Panic During Coronavirus Pandemic
Coronavirus pandemic has put the Europe and very much rest of the world into state of panic.
As the number of confirmed cases in the UK and Europe rises, anxiety and panic also spreads rapidlly.
UK Health secretary Matt Hancock said all over 70s could be asked to self-isolate at home for a period of months in a bid to curb the further spread.
Experts claims that the spread of panic among the people can be dangerous as coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Michael Sinclair, a consultant psychologist, tells The Independent: “It is understandable there should be a level of concern. Our minds evolved from cave ancestors to worry: we focus on doom and gloom, we chew it over in our brain and we learn new survival skills. That is our mind just doing what it is meant to do.”
Psychotherapist Silva Neves agrees but warns “panic, too, is contagious”.
So what to do if you start feeling anxiety and panic amid high level of fear among you? Listen to the experts!
“Listen to what your mind says is there and then look at the evidence for what is really there,” says Dr Sinclair. “We need to recognise that it is often a story our mind is telling us, not the reality.
“Try to do this by, for example, instead of saying ‘I’m going to get ill’ say ‘I’m having the thought that I’m going to get ill’ to emphasise this is your mind telling you that not reality.”
Mr Neves adds: “We have control over how much we think about it. We do have control over our thoughts, although it is hard work sometimes to control them. Worrying about it won’t guarantee a better outcome. So try to allocate some brain space for other important things too.”
“Sometimes we can make ourselves feel unwell (and like we might have something like coronavirus) through panic and anxiety – those signs; shortness of breath and heart racing,” says Dr Sinclair. “But when this happens, instead of trying to immediately eradicate or ignore those feelings, which won’t help, make space for them, describe them as you experience them.”
Mr Neves says in moments of panic you should try to take a few breaths; sit down and count your breath in and out for 10 seconds. Then repeat. And remember, panic can be more dangerous than the virus himself.