As the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching implications continue to unfold globally and, in our community, it’s normal for people to experience a wide range of thoughts, feelings and reactions including:
- Feeling stressed or overwhelmed
- Anxiety or fear
- Racing thoughts
- Sadness, tearfulness and loss of interest in usual enjoyable activities
- Physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, stomach upset, fatigue, or other uncomfortable sensations
- Frustration, irritability, or anger
- Restlessness or agitation
- Feeling helpless
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Feeling disconnected from others
- Apprehension about going to public spaces
- Trouble relaxing
- Relationship stress
These experiences are all understandable in the face of this significant challenge. There has been a loss of life, rapid changes to our way of life, and disrupted plans due to travel restrictions and social distancing measures in our efforts to slow the spread of transmission. People are naturally concerned for their own and their loved ones’ health and safety. There is still much uncertainty and that is something that fuels stress.
It’s important to recognise the seriousness of the public health challenges facing our community and be mindful that reacting from a place of panic and fear is usually unhelpful, especially in the long term. Looking after our well-being in times like this can help to reduce stress and is crucial in enabling us to still take calm and effective action during this global crisis.
Strategies to cope with stress, anxiety or distress
When many things feel uncertain or out of our control, one of the most effective ways we can manage stress and anxiety is to focus on the actions that are in our control. Here are some ways you can take intentional steps to look after your physical and emotional well-being during this challenging time:
Acknowledge your feelings. Whatever you are feeling right now, know that it’s okay to feel that way. Allow yourself time to notice and express what you’re feeling. This could be through journaling, talking with others, or channelling your emotions into something creative -drawing, painting, poetry, or music. Mindfulness meditation exercises can help us stay grounded. You can learn how to witness and let thoughts and feelings come and go in your own time, without getting overwhelmed by them.
Maintain your day-to-day activities and routine as much as possible. Having a healthy routine can have a positive impact on your thoughts and feelings. Go back to basics: eating healthy meals, physical exercise (e.g., walking, stretching, yoga, cycling), getting enough sleep, and doing things you enjoy. Even if you’re in self-quarantine, or working from home, there are many ways to develop new routines and stay healthy.
During this time of change, it’s natural for our minds to think of all the usual activities we may not be able to do now. Try to make a conscious shift to focus on the activities we are still able to do, or those that we may have more opportunity to do if we’re at home more often. Some ideas could be to:
- Keep learning and maintaining your study
- Read a book
- Listen to a podcast
Try out a new hobby or skill-cook a new recipe, play an instrument, learn a language, learn how to sew, gardening.
Stay connected. Receiving support and care from others has a powerful effect on helping us cope with challenges. Spending time with supportive family and friends can bring a sense of comfort and stability. Talking through our concerns, thoughts, and feelings with others can also help us find helpful ways of thinking about or dealing with a stressful situation.
There are many ways we can use technology to stay connected, and both give and receive support wherever we are. You could:
- Call, text, or video-chat with friends and family
- Share quick and easy recipes
- Start a virtual book or movie club
- Schedule a workout together over video chat
- Join an online group or peer forum.
- Contribute. Showing care towards friends, family, or vulnerable people in our community can be more important during times like this. It can foster a sense of hope, purpose, and meaning. Some ideas can be to:
- Send someone you care about a message of encouragement or affirmation
- Cook, pack and deliver a meal to someone in your neighbourhood
- Donate to a cause.
Keep things in perspective. In a situation that’s uncertain, it’s natural to have many ‘what if?’ questions in our minds. In the absence of information, our anxious mind will often fill in the blanks with worst-case scenarios, which can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, or vulnerable. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to shift your thinking from catastrophizing to a more helpful mindset:
- What are the things within my control?
- Am I overestimating the likelihood of the worst-case scenario?
- What strategies have helped me cope with challenging situations in the past that will serve me well during this time?
- What is a small helpful or positive action that I can take now?
By trying to focus on what resilience we have can be a significant strategy regarding how we work with situations in present tense.
Set limits around news and social media. It’s understandable to want to keep informed and prepared. At the same time, constantly reading, watching, or listening to upsetting media coverage can unnecessarily intensify worry and agitation. When you get the urge to check updates, see if you can pause, notice the urge, delay acting on the urge, and let it pass without judgement. Schedule a specific time to check in with the news instead. It’s also healthy to take breaks from conversations with others about COVID-19 and suggest talking about other topics that are occurring in your lives.
- Helpful resources and support
- Tip sheets and online resources
- Australian Psychological Society (APS): Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety
- Beyond Blue: Looking after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
- Dr Russ Harris, physician and psychotherapist: How to respond effectively to the coronavirus (using the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- WHO: Mental health and psychosocial considerations during COVID-19
- Smiling Mind – free mindfulness meditation app to help you look after your mental health and manage stress and daily challenges.
- Headspace – free “Weathering the Storm” program available to help support the global community through this time including a curated list of calming meditations, help with sleep, and at-home workouts or movement exercises.
- Self-help programs
- the desk-free online program for Australian tertiary students to improve their well-being and study more effectively. There are four modules on how to stay calm, be more productive, and improve your well-being and relationships.
Helpful resources for support
Lifeline – provides crisis counselling and suicide prevention services. Phone: 13 11 14 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Lifeline online chat.
Suicide Call Back Service – provides online and phone counselling if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal. Phone: 1300 659 467.
Beyond Blue – online and phone mental health support. Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Beyond Blue online chat.
CareinMind – online and phone counselling for people living, working, or studying in Melbourne’s northern, central, and western suburbs. Phone: 1300 096 269 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). CareinMIND online counselling.
eheadspace – confidential mental health and wellbeing support for young people (12 – 25 years) and their families, including information, support, and health services. Phone: 1800 650 890 (9am – 1am, 7 days a week). eheadspace online chat.
MensLine – professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Phone 1300 78 99 78 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). MensLine online counselling.
Mindspot – free telephone and online service for people with stress, worry, anxiety, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression and can help you find local services. Call 1800 61 44 34 (8am – 8pm, Monday – Friday; 8am-6pm, Saturday).
Counselling (all practitioners use Skype/zoom/FaceTime/phone) in order to promote wellness and addressing mental health stability due to the COVID-19 crisis
Cath Adams Counselling specialises in grief, anxiety and stress management as well as crisis counselling and depression. Make an appointment calling 0249 698 706 or online via the website
Newpsych specialise in anxiety and stress management, relationships and depression. Make an appointment by calling 0249 265 005 or through the website.
North Sydney Psychology Clinic telehealth bulk billing in times of crises and assisting with the stress and anxiety management. Call on 0416254189 or make an appointment via the website
Rob Russell specialises in anxiety, depression and relationship counselling. To make an appointment call 0416 117 861 or book online via the website
Jennifer Perkins specialises in trauma, anxiety and depression. Call 0403 605 802 or book online via the website
Sonja Bollnow Hypnotherapy, Intuitive Counselling, Coaching and Family Constellations in Mosman out of the Elysian Psychotherapy clinic on weekends – no website yet, so just 0435 776 985 or email sbollnow@hotmail.com
Specialist areas
1800Respect – confidential counselling, information and support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse via phone or online chat. Phone: 1800 737 732 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). 1800Respect online chat.
Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline (ED HOPE) – confidential service that provides information, counselling, and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Phone: 1800 33 4673 (8am – midnight).
Directline – confidential alcohol and drug counselling and referral service. Phone: 1800 888 236 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Directline online counselling.
Switchboard Victoria – telephone and web counselling, information, and referral service for LGBTQI people. Phone: 1800 184 527 (3pm – 12am, 7 days a week). QLife Webchat.
