Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Anxiety Symptoms
Even in the best of times, it can be hard for someone struggling with anxiety to get by. But with COVID-19, the impact of anxiety can be much, much worse.
Mainly because multiple factors bombard you at the same time. Coping with your anxiety symptoms then gets more challenging with each passing day. You wonder if there will be any relief.
However, it is possible to get through this pandemic and not let your anxiety get the best of you. The trick is understanding how COVID-19 affects your anxiety symptoms and what to do about it.
The Fear Bubble
First, there’s the Fear Bubble. The Fear Bubble consists of all the news and information that’s out there. Of course, some sources of news are going to be better than others.
All news sources contribute, whether intentionally or not, to this sense of fear and impending doom. Unfortunately, that feeling is often at the heart of anxiety symptoms. In more typical times, you might feel a sense of doom when doing everyday tasks. With each new research study, policy announcement, or commentary, you can’t help but feel anxious.
The Amplification of Social Media
Social media has become an even bigger amplifier of emotions (both positive and negative). Maybe it’s because many of us turn to our devices out of a sense of boredom. Or, we want to stay up to date with what our friends are doing.
However, at the same time, interspersed in your feed are triggers. People are speculating on what the future might be or lamenting the past. Two emotions are constant on social media: anger and fear.
People are angry for a variety of reasons (and often for a good reason). But anger without purpose is toxic. And of course, people fearing the current situation only breeds more fear. Seeing people always vent online may draw you in, but zoning in on that anger only does more harm than good.
Feeling Powerless Against COVID-19
One of the significant issues that people with anxiety symptoms struggle with is feeling powerless. When the anxiety rises, it seems as if there is nothing you can do to stop it. Nothing seems to work, and you can’t avoid it.
These experiences bubble up an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness. So, you cope the best way you can. This response might look like using a self-soothing technique to quiet the anxiety. In more severe instances, people turn to drugs or alcohol to soothe their anxiety and numb the feelings. Yet, no matter, it comes back.
The Disruption of Relationships
Early one, when everything was shutting down, it felt like all these doors were closing on you. Everyone was retreating to their own homes and staying inside. Although necessary to prevent the spread of the virus, it also had the effect of disrupting relationships.
People who didn’t live in the same home could no longer have those face-to-face experiences. That’s tough because we are a species that needs relationships to survive.
In therapy, there is the concept of psychodynamic therapy. It’s all about the relationship and connection between a therapist and the client. COVID-19 severely disrupted those relationships, at least temporarily. Eventually, most people learned how to use streaming video chats and have adapted.
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By understanding how COVID-19 has affected those with anxiety, you can begin to take back the power you lost. Really, you never lost it at all — deep down. It’s just that now things look different.
Reach out to people who you trust and have meaningful relationships. Participating in counseling will also be very helpful in calming your anxiety symptoms. Please contact my office today to schedule a consultation and see how online therapy can help you.