UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 06 MARCH 2020
As the UK sees an increase in coronavirus cases, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Birmingham City University, Kim Moore, explains what to do to cope with coronavirus induced anxiety…
It is not easy with the daily updates of coronavirus infection rates to stay calm and anxiety free, it is a worrying time and the information is constantly changing.
It would seem that in the next few days and weeks, coronavirus will become a daily conversation for us all and like me, you are probably worrying about the risk to yourself and family members.
Given the rapid spread of the virus globally it is normal to be concerned about coronavirus, remember that anxiety often works to protect us from harm, but if it begins to overwhelm you to the exclusion of your normal daily activities then this could be a problem.
- Download an image for adult colouring and create a masterpiece – this is a soothing activity.
- Put on your favourite song and sing along with the lyrics.
- Watch a film or game show and turn the sound up to immerse yourself in the action, alternatively start a new game on your game console.
- Learn new words in different languages, or learn a new language.
- Call or FaceTime a friend and chat about the latest film you watched or book you read.
- Attend or do some yoga or tai chi exercise, or even take yourself for a stroll in your local park.
- Spend time with a pet if you have one.
- If you can’t resist, spring clean the kitchen or clean the oven.
- Use the link to Public Health England to check for reputable updates on what to do.