Why am I so anxious?

It is almost a year since Covid-19 became a household word. It started as “It will take a few weeks to get rid of this Covid-19 thing” to “looks like this is bigger and more widespread than we thought” to “we should all come together to stop the virus” to “Stop taking away my right to breathe by telling me I have to wear a mask.”

We went from “life as usual” to changing the way you do small daily things. Face masks and social distancing are a way of life and will likely be for awhile. The ways we interact in public have been altered dramatically from hugging a close neighbor when you see them to walking around a car into the street to avoid close contact with that same neighbor. From attending back yard BBQ’s, eating at restaurants, hanging out with friends and family indoors to socially distanced picnics in large open spaces, eating outdoors at restaurants with masks on unless you are actively eating or drinking and seeing family and friends though Zoom and technology instead of in person. We have seen unemployment numbers rise and small businesses close at alarming rates.

In the past year, our lives have been uprooted in both small and large ways. A virus has spread across our nation and the world with millions of people contracting it and 100’s of thousands of people dying from it.

We are not meant to operate in sustained crisis. We have a capacity to handle emergencies for a short amount of time. Now we are facing a world wide emergency plagued with disagreements, conspiracy theories and systemic oppression. This is not normal. This is not how we are supposed to operate.

Yet we still try.

We try to continue living our life with the same expectations of happiness, fulfillment and progress prior to Covid-19. We try to change this to the new normal without changing the expectations we put on ourselves.

Stressful events can add anxiety, complications and frustrations to our daily life. A worldwide pandemic is a stressful event that has changed the landscape of how we do things. To attach the “keep moving forward at the same pace” mindset during these times can actually add more anxiety.

Take a step back and look at all of the factors in your life that have changed. Take a look at the systems and processes you have in place. Where can you change your goals, visions and expectations? Can you shift your priorities? Can you add mindfulness activities into your daily life? Can you focus on the breath? Can you celebrate the small victories? Can you acknowledge that this way of life has been challenging and be proud of how you have moved through it? Can you ask for support where you need it?

Take a deep breath. Believe that this is all going to work out. You have the ability to change the way you do things according to external circumstances. Decide what areas need to change and take the steps to adjust.

You got this. We got this.