The COVID-19 outbreak is causing stressful physical, social, and psychological effects.

Covid19 can engender feelings of fear, anger, sadness, irritability, confusion.

The large quantities of Covid19 daily news reports, not knowing how bad it is, dealing with the facts and myths cause anxieties. The impact of the pandemic is life changing. Mandatory social-distancing and quarantine elicit loneliness and disquiet.

When you are preoccupied with possible virus contamination it can bring on much anxiety. The trending unease or  concerns such as money worries, family relationships, health impact, and meeting healthcare needs increase stress levels.

Your responses to these uncontrolled events and changes  can make a difference to your well-being.

Both stress and anxiety can result in an inability to act. The ability to cope with stress and anxiety will vary depending on the type of crisis you face. If you feel that you are not coping well in managing stress and anxiety reach out for help.

Additionally, here are helpful tips to help you maintain mental wellness through this challenging time.

• Fact-check your thoughts because what-ifs often stir up anxious thoughts. 
• Examine the situation. Seek to separate the real risks and dangers from those what-ifs your imagination is making you worry over.
• Take control of the things you can but accept those you cannot change.
• Carefully implement the public health guidelines regarding prevention, safety, and protective behaviors. These precautions are to protect you and to make sure that you do not inadvertently spread the virus.
• Engage in calming practices to challenge anxious thoughts. Meditation induces relaxation while deep breathing calms.
• Sleeping soundly also soothes anxious thoughts. If you find it hard to sleep, adjust your sleeping environment and sleep schedule. 
• Exercise is good therapy for coping with anxiety and stress. Get active, get moving.
• Physical-social distancing impacts emotional well-being. But social support is beneficial. Reach-out, to stay connected to others by a video or phone call or text with friends. 
• Alcohol or drugs produce mood changes and are unhelpful to use such substances.
• Contact a  mental health therapist should anxiety become overwhelming or interfere with daily living tasks. 
• Take medications as prescribed for the physical symptoms that accompany anxiety and stress. Medications will keep such symptoms under control. 

Begin by taking small steps every day to reduce your stress and manage anxiety. You will get through this