How do I Manage my Covid Anxiety? - Video Transcript

Hey everyone, I'm Kristen, the anxiety therapist. Today, I had a specific topic in mind, but I decided to do an impromptu video on COVID anxiety. I know we're all tired of talking and hearing about it, but I think some of the points I'm going to make apply to many different situations in life.

First and foremost, anxiety is an important emotion to experience. It dates back to our ancestors, who had to experience the fight-flight or freeze response when hunting for food or trying to stay safe from predators.

Anxiety is a functional emotion that we often forget about. It becomes a problem when our brains cannot differentiate between actual and perceived threats. In the case of COVID, it is a real threat to our physical safety and health. Therefore, it's natural to feel anxious about it.

The most important thing to remember is that we only have control over ourselves. With all the uncertainty, mindfulness becomes essential. Focus on one day at a time, prioritize what you need, and keep yourself and your family safe. It's crucial to recognize that you can't control anyone else. Everyone has their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

There are many different opinions and belief systems about COVID, and it's unlikely that you will change someone's mind. Share your perspective, but don't go in with expectations. It's important to recognize that everyone has different experiences and interpretations of things. COVID has brought many larger systemic issues to the forefront.

If you're experiencing anxiety about COVID, know that it's normal and a protective mechanism. If you feel like it's becoming irrational, focus on what you can control, take it one day or hour at a time, and stay as present as possible. Worrying about things out of your control is wasted energy and only fuels the anxiety loop in your head.

Hopefully, we will be out of this soon. It's been difficult for everyone, and it's unfortunate that it has created such a divide. We must navigate it from here on out and focus on what we can control in our own lives.

Stay tuned for more videos every Friday, and I'll see you all next week.