Living with COVID: Coping with anxiety
More than two years into the pandemic event, we are learning to live with COVID-19 as part of our daily lives, and that can provoke anxiety.
This anxiety has likely evolved during those two years from pressures related to staying home from work, school and activities, and separation from family and friends, to now engaging in public spaces once again with or without masks, and knowing that a certain segment of the population will not be choosing to be vaccinated.
“How someone learns to live with COVID is going to be different for each person, and will depend on their own personal situation and health status,” said Dr. Katherine Owens, a Regina-based psychologist. “We have all dealt with things that initially caused us a lot of fear. The situations we face head-on become less frightening with time and repetition. The ones we avoid never really feel less frightening.”
Owens suggests approaching scary situations gently and safely, to make them less scary in the long run. Taking things gradually can also help.
“If you haven’t been out very much during COVID, there might be a lot of smaller steps for you take – if your doctor thinks it is reasonably safe. Go for a walk outdoors with a mask a few times, then move to the same walk without a mask or visiting with a friend in your yard before visiting indoors. Everyone’s steps will look a bit different depending on where you are starting from,” Owens noted.
When assessing your personal COVID risk, speaking to a doctor can help.
“When we think about risk tolerance, we know that some activities are riskier for one person versus another,” Owens said. “People with compromised health, medical conditions, those who can’t be vaccinated, the very young and the elderly might understand themselves to be at higher risk of contracting COVID, getting really sick or dying. It’s good for us to remember that these folks might not advertise their health status and their actions - or inactions - might seem driven by anxiety. Being kind and acknowledging there may be factors at play that you don’t know about can go a long way.”
If fear or anxiety is interfering with your regular activities, speaking with a therapist is a good idea.
“It is ok to be afraid, but fear should not keep you from your friends, family, school, or work. When emotions get in the way of living the life you want, a therapist can be invaluable in getting back on track.”