It’s Not Just You Who Feels This Cloud Of Displaced Anxiety

The Effects of Corona Virus on Everyday Anxiety.

Since the start of 2020 when Corona Virus entered our lives, the media, the chatter amongst friends and neighbours and personal experiences has bought a huge dose of anxiety and fear into all of our lives.

For some, this has been worse than others. A subset of the population have been scared to leave their houses for fear of catching corona virus. The effects of the pandemic on people’s mental health have been well documented and a lot of this stems from the anxiety that has been magnified due to lack of contact with others, fear mongering and spiralling thoughts.

The Lucky Ones

For those of us that are lucky not to find ourselves in a vulnerable category expected to shield or too fearful to leave the house, we haven’t escaped this cloud of anxiety. As someone below the age threshold for concern and with no underlying health conditions, I haven’t had too much anxiety around catching the virus itself, however, I have not escaped this intense feeling.

You see, it’s not just the threat of the virus itself that has caused people so much anxiety. Us humans function best with certainty in our lives. This varies from person to person, but in general, when you take away a persons certainty, we become anxious.

Uncertainty

Fear of losing jobs, worry about relatives, not knowing when lockdown will end, and just the general uncertainty of not being in control of our own lives has taken it’s toll on even the strongest of people. We have 6 human needs that we are ultimately driven by: certainty, variety, love and connection, significance, growth and contribution. The drive for certainty is strong and when we don't have it, it can contribute to making us feel imbalanced. The result can be anxiety and feeling unsettled.

Displacement

This anxiety accumulates and can be displaced on other aspects of our lives. You may have found that you have been anxious about things that would never usually upset you, or extremely anxious about things that would have previously only caused mild anxiety.

When we become overwhelmed by an emotion, we subconsciously look for ways to control this feeling by associating it with something less threatening. This is how phobias are often developed. For example, we might displace a fear of flying onto something we see when we are at the height of this emotional state.

This is similar to what happens in the event of something like a pandemic, where the overriding feeling amongst the population is anxiety and uncertainty. It is possible that we start feeling this anxiety in other areas of our lives. This is subconscious so it’s unlikely that most of us realise this is what’s happening.

An example of this is feeling overly worried about meeting with friends again for fear of not knowing how to interact anymore, or something like a fear of driving, which has no relation to the pandemic at all.

Tips for Reducing Anxiety

Whether this is impacting us personally in a way that is serious, or minor, this is something that is happening all around us. The undercurrent of anxiety in society as a whole is strong. As restrictions in the UK are removed this week, this could go one of two ways. If it is causing you to feel more anxiety around aspects of your life, here are some tips to create some certainty and reduce anxiety:

Take Things Slow

Sudden changes can make anxiety worse, so when it comes to integrating back into society, do it gently and at your own pace. Maintain a level of control by doing what you are comfortable with.

Stick to a Routine

If you have developed a routine, do your best to keep it. If your remote working has come to an end and you have to return to the office, try not to change everything together. For example, if you have been breaking at a certain time each day, stick to that if you’re able. If you have a favourite coffee cup, take it to work with you.

Stay Organised

Feeling on top of things can help us control uncertainty and help reduce anxiety. Plan ahead, know what you have to do, where you have to be and eliminate any major surprises.

Relax

Find something that makes you feel relaxed and at ease that you can do when you feel uneasy. Meditate, go for a walk, do some yoga, cook a meal. Whatever it is that works for you, incorporate it into your day.

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