The Pandemic of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is becoming increasingly widespread and so is the anxiety and fear surrounding it. With an increasing number of cases in the US, businesses and schools shutting down etc., many are left in fear of what is to come next.
It is understandable given the rapid and growing nature of the virus that anxiety would be on the rise especially when it comes to those with pre-existing health concerns or the older population. Many are left in panic; not knowing if they or their loved ones will come in contact with or catch the virus and taking extra precautions to prevent further spreading.
Bonnie Berkowitz from the Washington Post in her article on “What Coronavirus Fears are Doing to People with Anxiety Disorders” states: “The stress of a new thing to worry about can exacerbate the symptoms of PTSD or trigger more frequent panic attacks in people who are prone to them. And it can be especially rough for the approximately 5 percent of adults annually who have illness anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondria, and are already predisposed to fear disease (Berkowitz, 2020 – Link to full article:https://adaa.org/sites/default/files/Post%20CoronaVirus%20Article%20-%20ADAA%20Goodman%2C%20Krystal%2C%20Owens%20March%2011%202020.pdf)
Some measures that can be useful in alleviating anxiety surrounding the virus are listed below:
- Taking preventative measures such as Frequent hand washing/disinfecting, drinking enough water, getting sleep, staying home if you are sick etc.
- Making self-care a priority.
- Stick to everyday routine as much as you can to maintain a sense of normalcy.
- Meditation/Breathing
- Exercise
At Suburban Research Associates, we are closely following and implementing recommendations as set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to protect the health of our patients and staff and will continue to update our patients and web pages with any new information. Please see SRA’s official response to the virus and measures we are taking to take as much precaution as possible here: http://suburbanresearch.com/suburban-associates-response-to-covid-19-coronavirus/
I have been dealing with depression and Exide he for most of my adult life I was a former patient or recipient of suburban research in a different study and I am subsequently reaching out to see if I can’t relieve some of the problems that I’m now facing . Anxiety is the term I use not Exide .
Hi Robert, thanks so much for your comment and interest! We will reach out regarding your inquiry!