Researchers have found rising anxiety, depression and other mental health impacts amid the pandemic. Here's what you can do about it.
Want more good news? Marques and other experts say there's also a lot you can do to manage anxiety at home — techniques you can use to feel better and make wise choices. Here's where to start.When we're feeling anxious, we've fired up a set of structures in our brain called the limbic system, said Marques. That's an area responsible for emotional responses, memory and motivation.
"When you're on [amygdala] hijack, you're 'spinning,'" Marques said. "You might say: 'If I don't put on a mask right now I'm going to catch the virus, and if I get the virus, who's going to take care of my kids?' — which of course makes you more anxious." Those strategies can help you step out of the cycle of anxiety, putting your prefrontal cortex back in the driver's seat.
"We're in the middle of this major uncertainty, and a lot of things are out of our control," she said. Rather than try to plan for every possibility, Marques recommended we face uncertainty head-on. "Staying with this discomfort for a little bit is important." Once you've narrowed it down, pull out a sheet of paper and write out pros and cons, Bufka recommended. When everything is down in black and white, it can be easier to put your issues in perspective.
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