Tips on How to Manage your Anxiety
If you are experiencing anxiety because of the pandemic, please know YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Because of the increasing cases of COVID-19 patients, the enhanced community quarantine, budgeting, and other related news, people are starting to show heightened symptoms of anxiety. For this reason, Brandbuzz headed by Ms. Clara Alegria, invited mommy Fleur Rubio-Sombrero to share some tips on how to manage anxiety and stress due to COVID-19 to the #BBmommas. (will share about Brandbuzz on a separate blog)
TIPS TO MANAGE ANXIETY
Here are my takeaways from the online talk made by Mommy Fleur (sidenotes are mine):
- Pray, pray, pray – God is always there to listen to our worries. In the Bible, Jesus talked about anxiety and worry a few times, but this one is my favorite:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:6-7 - For mommies, only think of things that you can control – We have no control over COVID-19, until when it will last, or how people behave about it. What we can do is focus on how we can reduce the risk of becoming infected.
- Stop reading or watching anything that will increase your anxiety – it is good to stay informed especially updates from the government but limit the time you check for updates. Make sure that you are only getting updates from legitimate sources like the Department of Health or the World Health Organization so as to protect yourself from fake news.
- Establish a daily routine – this is important even when we just stay at home all day. It gives us the feeling of being normal and it signals our brain that we are on our typical day.
- Do something that you like or make you happy (allot at least 1hr a day for your sanity) – if cooking makes you happy, then cook. Clean your house, read, play with the kids, or paint your nails. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as it makes you happy and takes your mind out of your worries.
6. Set realistic goals that you can accomplish – do not do every interesting activity that you see on social media because it will cause you more stress and pressure. Take note of the things that you can do per day and work on your own pace.
7. Find someone to talk to – someone who will understand and not judge you. Talk to someone who is ready to listen – family, relatives, friends, or even a medical professional.
8. Start a journal or a personal blog – This is tried and tested. Write down five things you are thankful for. Pour out your thoughts, feelings, frustrations, your worries, and everything that’s bothering you on your journal or your personal blog. When you calmed down and feeling better, you can read and reflect on what you’ve written.
9. Get into essential oils – there are studies showing that specific essential oils can relieve stress and relax the body. If you are not into essential oils, well, there’s no harm in trying.
10. Meditate – “Meditating helps us stop overattending to our thoughts and feelings and “allows us to get off the wheel, catch our breath, and get some perspective.” – Psychcentral.com
11. Watch your diet – Avoid caffeinated drinks, citrusy food, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, and cigarette as they can make you palpitate. Drink more water.
12. Help others – helping others can reduce our stress, take off our minds to our own problem, and gives us a sense of purpose. Just make sure that you are really helping others because you want to.
13. Exercise to release endorphins – I’m not really sure how it works but according to WebMD, “These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain.” They also noted that exercise ward off anxiety and feelings of depression.
I hope these tips to manage your anxiety will help you as much as it helped us, #BBmommas.
Let’s stay connected:
Facebook Instagram
Twitter Contact Me
17 Comments
WanderWoMom
thank you for sharing mommy. parang nag cabin fever kasi ako 2 weeks ago. pero okay na ako ngayon. i do breathing exercises sa morning and sa gabi. and pag di ko na kaya i take long walks to the grocery.
blair villanueva
Your tips are very helpful. Not all people can manage their anxieties and each one of them needs unique ways to ease what they feel.
Adventures with Docah
I am so glad you shared this. Anxiety attacks cannot always be avoided but can be resolved. I agree that first we really have to pray pray pray. Thank you for giving so much sense and positivity.
Mumshie Nica
Mumsh, really helpful ito lalo na sa akin, sobrang taas ng anxiety level ko, sumabay kase ang layoff sa work and then etong pandemic nakadagdag ng hirap sa paghahanap ng work. I will share it on my page Mumshie Nica 🙂
Nadj Villaver
And since ECQ is just extended until May 15, these tips are more helpful. The longer the ECQ is extended, the more we need to manage our emotions. Hope this will soon end. Keep safe!
Abby
I wanted to start making a journal but I do not know where to start. Do you have some tips about that? About the diet, I’m trying to lock the kitchen hahaha we can’t stop eating all day due to this self isolation.
Christian Foremost
These are very good tips and i also noticed that a couple of them I actually do already! It’s an everyday struggle i guess to be dealing with anxiety, but we have to remember that every day is a day closer to the end of this!! We should just have faith in god and be there for each other.
clang
Thanks sa mga tips. Sa mga nangyayari ngayon yung first point of action talaga natin is to pray. God is in control in every situation and has the power over all creation.
Dawn
Number is my number one. Talking to God keeps my anxiety in check 🙂 Sometimes I forget but when I remember, my anxiety drops to zero 🙂
Jowell (@FLINGeros.PH | @FoodFlings.PH)
It’s really a difficult time and we are all unprepared for this kind of situation and thank you for this such simple and realistic tips. One thing I got from this is that personal connections should still be in place since this is what brings us back to reality and not worry about things because for all of these too shall pass.
Jan Darren Guiwan
We are really under a silent stress and anxiety state due to this pandemic. Under a lockeddown situation, it is indeed an adjustment phase for us since we experience many disruptions. Adding up is the uncertainty of the normalization process. Agree to the list you made, these would really pacify the anxious mind.
Rae
I’ve been doing most of your tips already. I highly pay attention to diet as I have gastritis, I can neither binge eat or do fasting! Exercising and meditation have helped me as well too.
Anie Ordillo
It’s easy to be overcome with anxieties in a time such as this so we do everything we can to cope. There’s so much to take away from your post but I especially love that you quote Philippines 4:6-7. Faith over fear, I tell myself everyday.
Ryan
naku sobrang kelangan natin to, cabin fever is real and that triggers anxiety
Wendy
I can confidently say, No I’m not experiencing anxiety:-)… 1) I listened to my body and started doing social distancing before it became a byword, and 2) I cut out the noises. I stopped lingering on newsfeeds. In fact, I took out the FB app in my cellphone. I focus on what’s in front of me, my family:-)
Hazel
Thanks for sharing these tips! It’s hard not to have some anxiety or panic but it helps to read tips like this. I agree we should set realistic goals that we can accomplish — and not just do it because we saw them posted online. We all have our own talents, skills and resources so we shouldn’t be hard on ourselves if we can’t do what everyone else can do. 😅
Yourtitaja
Get into essential oils! I am 20 years old lang pero I super love essential oils. Hehe. One of the reasons why I was called tita when I was 17 is my collection of oils and infusers. Hahahahaha! Really reduce anxiety and relaxes the mind. Totally works!