The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting isolation have resulted in a heightened sense of anxiety among all age groups in our population, especially those sixty years of age and older.
Anxiety is a symptom of distress. Beyond feeling stressed, anxiety is the more persistent behavior of worrying and feeling fearful as articulated in a statement such as, “I just don’t know what to do.” It also exhibits the feeling of being out of control. You might hear senior adults make comments such as, “I feel so helpless.”
Normal routines have been interrupted, and life has become extremely unpredictable. Anxiety can produce a loss of appetite, poor hygiene, sleeplessness, nervousness, confusion, worry, forgetfulness, and a lack of ability in making decisions.
If you are a senior adult who is suffering from Covid-19 related anxiety, below are things you can do to help counter anxious feelings that may negatively impact your health or interfere with your daily functioning.
- Establish a daily routine that becomes second nature and provides structure to your life.
- Create one or two productive activities that help you feel valued, like volunteering at a food bank or local hospital.
- Plan a leisure activity each day that you do for fun such as reading a book, watching a movie, or going for a walk.
- Maintain good self-care a diet of healthy foods, exercise, a consistent sleep schedule, and good grooming.
- Incorporate plentiful rest for your body so you can be restored each day.
- Balance time alone and social time with friends. Find ways to connect with people both in-person and via the internet.
- Look for multiple sensory opportunities that include visual, auditory, touch, smell, and taste.
- Be kind to yourself by avoiding critical self-talk.
- Pay attention to the positive and avoid focusing on the negative.
- Take a few moments each day to take a self-compassion break by breathing deeply and meditating.
- Journal by writing how you are feeling over a period of time.
- Laughter stimulates the release of pain-reducing endorphins in the brain, brings oxygen into our bodies, increases energy, and provides a sense of well-being. Laughter also protects us from the damaging effects of stress and anxiety.
- Develop a strong social network of trusted friends and family members.
- Go to your “safe” place periodically and relax.
- Share your feelings with your husband or wife, your children, or close friend so they can come alongside you as you take steps to address the anxiety.
- If necessary, seek professional counseling from a licensed therapist who is trained to work with clients dealing with anxiety.
Sometimes it may be hard to know where to start in managing your anxiety especially after reading a long list like the one above, so pick two and three and begin with those. Gradually increase your choices until you find your comfort zone. This will help put you on the road to feeling much better.