In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to reveal seven things you can do now to overcome loneliness, anxiety and panic during the Coronavirus pandemic.
First a quick update:
The Breakup Test
Are you heartbroken, angry, lost, lonely, confused, depressed, hung up, or pining over your ex? Do you know how your ex is truly affecting you and do you want to benefit from personalized advice, action steps and revelations? Take my free breakup test and get your own personalized report.
Coronavirus Now Makes You Think About What Really Matters
At the end of your life, what will you regret? Will you regret what you did or what you didn’t do? I believe that you will regret not having expressed more love. Watch my video
Now, let’s talk about ways to overcome loneliness, fear, anxiety and panic during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Please accept that it is natural and okay to feel and experience stress and fear during this time. In this article, I will share with you 7 techniques to alleviate the stress, overcome loneliness, and neutralize anxiety and panic.
Signs of Stress
* Intense emotions such as sadness, loss, fear, hopelessness, helplessness, confusion, irritability, obsessiveness, anger, and suicidal thoughts
* Inability to focus – feelings of apathy or desire to escape
* Social withdrawal and isolation
* Fatigue and apathy
* Lowered or increased appetite; abuse of alcohol or other stimulants or drugs
* Physical tension in the body such as headaches, lower back pain, stiffness, jaw clenching, grinding of teeth
* Disrupted sleep
Again, these are natural responses, and as I will reveal, the way to reduce or neutralize them is by changing your thoughts and behaviors.
Your thoughts create an emotional response which, in turn, drives your behavior, creating more emotional responses and more consequences – such as paralyzing fear, anxiety or panic.
I understand that this is a unique moment and time in history; no one, anywhere in the world is truly exempt from the impact and consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic.
1. This, Too, Shall Pass
This is the most important principle which will help you to alleviate your fear and stress. Every moment of your life is temporary or transient; both good and bad things will happen, many over which you have no control. Lower your resistance and increase your acceptance of the things you cannot control. Stoicism teaches to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. In other words, accept that bad things or hard times might happen, but know that you will survive and focus on taking action over the things you can control. The pain and tribulations are temporary. Identify the things and people that are most important to you.
2. Identify Your Emotions
List and describe what you are feeling. Is it sadness, fear, panic, anxiety, helplessness, confusion, uncertainty or something else? Write them out; discuss them with a comforting friend and kindly tell that friend what you need. Perhaps you just need someone to listen to you, or someone to understand, accept or encourage you. When you can identify, list and verbalize the emotion, it has less power over you. Beware, though, of over-venting – anger is unique whereby if you focus too much on it, and if you keep re-experiencing anger, you simply create more of it. Practice being present to reduce fear i.e. use all of your senses to experience what is happening right now; be here, now. If possible, be in nature.
3. Verify – Get The Facts
Beware of believing everything that other people tell you. Instead, refer to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on the Coronavirus outbreak. Follow the advice about how to stay safe.
4. Take Care Of Your Self
What can you do to be kind, gentle, patient and compassionate to yourself? Do you recognize the signs of mental, emotional or physical stress? Take time to stop, rest, eat well, breathe deeply, sleep early and do something that soothes your soul and comforts your mind and body.
5. Connect With Others
We are hardwired to connect with others, to socialize, bond with or belong to a group or family, and to participate in meaningful relationships and communities. And when you are forced to isolate or be on your own, you will feel lonely, alone, disconnected and depressed. Write a letter to someone you love or miss; call them or have a video call. Think about someone special and tell them how much they mean to you and why; express gratitude and appreciation for their presence in your life and for the love they show you. Keep sharing yourself with others in a meaningful way, even if it can only be via technology right now.
6. Focus Your Energy
Where are you spending and directing most of your time and energy? Take a break or limit your exposure to the news and to people who will either sell conspiracy theories or create more fear for you. Again, beware of becoming obsessed with the news or immersing yourself in things you cannot control. The more you talk about fearful things, the more your thoughts will be about fear and, in turn, will generate panic or paralyze you.
Instead, be active. Finish a task you have put off; clean that closet; focus on a hobby or a passion – read a book, watch an inspirational or comedic movie, take on online course, write, draw, paint, play music; listen to uplifting music; practice yoga, exercise, breathe deeply or mediate inside your house. Listen to your favorite music and dance on your own and have fun. You will feel better than thinking and imagining pain and suffering.
7. Future Pace
Imagine now a time in the future when the pandemic is over and someone asks you, “How did you handle and survive the Coronavirus pandemic”? What would you say to them? This is a powerful exercise to help you to identify and articulate what qualities and character traits you need to draw upon now to formulate a healthy response to the crisis and pandemic. You are much more capable, resilient and powerful than you realize or perhaps admit to yourself. You can do it.
8. Help Someone Else
Research reveals that the fastest way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Thus, instead of listening to someone fearful and paranoid, practice helping to calm, console, encourage and support that person who is vulnerable, confused and scared. You might think you can’t do this, but you will be amazed at your capabilities when you think about helping someone! This strategy is particularly applicable to parents who choose to focus on comforting children.
If you need extra help to overcome fear or anxiety, book a one-on-one session with me.
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I wish you the best and remind you “Believe in yourself -You deserve the best!”
Patrick Wanis Ph.D.
Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert & SRTT Therapist
Anointed “The Woman Expert” by WGN Chicago, Patrick Wanis PhD is a renowned Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert who developed SRTT therapy (Subconscious Rapid Transformation Technique) and is teaching it to other practitioners. Wanis’ clientele ranges from celebrities and CEOs to housewives and teenagers. CNN, BBC, FOX News, MSNBC & major news outlets worldwide consult Wanis for his expert insights and analysis on sexuality, human behavior and women’s issues. Wanis is the first person ever to do hypnotherapy on national TV – on the Montel Williams show.