Embrace, don’t fight, feelings of anxiety during pandemic

Being anxious is a perfectly understandable reaction to our rapidly changing environment during the pandemic, and coping starts with normalizing these feelings and accepting them, says Dr. Andy Keller, a clinical psychologist and president and CEO of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.

A guest on AARP Texas’ Facebook Live series, Dr. Keller said anxiety is a normal response resulting from the many changes brought about by COVID-19, plus a sign that “our minds are connected to our bodies.”

“Surveys show most of us have had negative mental health impacts to some degree because of these changes,” he said. “Don’t add additional anxiety worrying about anxiety.”

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Because each person’s way of dealing with the pandemic is different, Dr. Keller recommends paying attention to signs that can tell us how we’re coping, particularly if a behavioral pattern persists for more than two weeks.

· Sleep – is it harder to get restful sleep or do you wake up more than usual?

· Appetite – have you lost or gained more than 5 pounds during this time? That could be a cause of concern unless it happened out of design.

· How are others reacting to you? – Are people reacting to you differently? For example, are they noting you are more irritable or quiet?

At times, the situation could get out of control, and the person may contemplate suicide or bring up the subject in conversation. In extreme cases like this, it’s important to let that person take responsibility for their own feelings but show your concern, focus on hope, and simply be present.

If you come across someone in this situation, contact the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The pandemic also has intensified feelings of loneliness and isolation that were present for some even before it began, particularly among the older population, said AARP Texas Director Tina Tran, the host of the conversation. Dr. Keller noted he has been impressed with people’s creativity to work around this—from the power of a hand-written letter to attending a funeral via Zoom.

Caregivers are also carrying a bigger burden than normal during these times. So, it’s important to seek help from others or from organizations such as AARP, Dr. Keller said.

“You cannot be the only caregiver, it’s not sustainable,” he said.