Tips for managing stress and anxiety in the chaotic times we're living in
LANE COUNTY, Ore. — As the number of coronavirus cases rises in Oregon, so does anxiety and stress for Oregonians.
Area psychologists say they are seeing a higher demand for help.
These days it's very quiet at the Elrod Counseling Center in North Eugene. The coronavirus has brought an end to indoor group sessions for kids.
“The groups have all been canceled and we are not able to convene doing a lot of the preventative work,” said Marian Stiegeler, the Clinical Director at the Elrod Center.
Covid-19 concerns are still a part of Marian Stiegeler's growing private client list. Clients that are feeling the anxiety of this new way of life, not so much over the virus itself.
“Super high anxiety level about losing their home, not being able to pay their mortgage,” Stiegeler said. “Many of them are small business owners like myself.”
At vista counseling center, director Ryan Scott has taken his entire practice to online therapy. Much of the distress he's tracking, stems from people feeling more isolated.
“Boredom, having events canceled that they were really looking forward to—that represents a sense of grief and loss,” said Scott.
And having to adapt to all this change & loss. So how do we cope?
Dr. Scott has these tips:
- Connect with others using smartphones or video calls. It's a golden age of communication.
- Get outside to exercise--hike--burn off the anxiety.
- Combine the two--exercise and call a friend.
- Get present in the moment...focus on your breathing
“I think taking a media break is really important,” Scott said. “Everyone is reading their news stories quite close right now. Everyone is really well informed.”
Scott says it's great to be informed but a media diet is also wise. For Marian Stiegeler, her best advice is to try to find some joy.
“So in the midst of chaos we can always see the beauty around us,” Stiegeler said. “We can always see joy—there’s always something to focus on.”
Good advice to follow, as we take each day, one day at a time.
Dr. Scott's office has put together some on-line tips that he calls "connecting during coronavirus."
You can tap that resource at www.vistapsych.com.
