Well-meaning advice for people who freak out about world affairs also includes motivation to be patient, remain calm, and maintain confidentiality. But how are you expected to do that in the madness of 2020?
Although there is nothing you can do to speed up a vaccine against coronavirus, you have the authority to take care of yourself. To calm down, neuroscientists, psychologists, and meditation experts gave guidance on the major and small things you should do. It would help if you tried to release fear, gain insight, and gird yourself for whatever comes next. Here are five things to help you.
Put down the phone!
During this time, although it is tempting to remain glued to your devices, the never-ending doomscrolling and screen-refreshing becomes unbearable and holds you in a state of tension and constant vigilance. During periods of crisis, the excessive consumption of news and social media predicts poorer long-term mental health.
Plan some breaks where you can indulge in other activities that take your mind off politics and the uncertainties we face, and encourage things for a while to feel a little more natural.
Uncertainty does not have to be tragic
It's hard not to know things, like the results of elections, for example. But not knowing does not mean that the worst-case scenario has happened, you think. You prefer to attach threatening meanings to ambiguous situations when you are nervous (as many in the U.S. are right now, but this habit is neither correct nor helpful. It's like setting off a series of false alarms that hold you on edge and exaggerate your sense of danger to leap to catastrophic conclusions.
Don't pull back into bed
An urge to withdraw and hole up can be caused by the feeling of deep disappointment about election outcomes that you don't like or anxiety about potential results. While that reaction is normal, it appears to be counterproductive. Staying involved in activities that give you a sense of success, enjoyment or value will make it much less difficult to handle this time.
Things have already happened
Although it is true in many respects that 2020 is exceptional and unparalleled, human beings, even in the face of immense stress and trauma, appear to be amazingly resilient. This challenging time will not last long. Magically, things won't all get better, but time will move on this situation will change, and you will continue to place one foot before the other.
Could you not go through it alone this time?
Although the pandemic suggests that you need to physically stay away from others, this does not mean staying away from others socially or emotionally. They cope much better if they have social support when individuals experience acute stress.
So reach out and remain linked, whether that means texting with a friend about the latest vote or deliberately taking a break from ruminating on current affairs (it's a perfect opportunity to explore in detail how you each feel about the The Mandalorian" new season).
Check out more news and information on Psychology in Science Times.
