• About
    • About The Healthy Voyager
    • Press
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • HVTV
    • The Healthy Voyager Travel Show
    • The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen
    • The Healthy Voyager’s TV Guest Appearances
    • Healthy Voyager Radio
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dressings & Sauces
    • Entrees
    • Holiday
    • Kid Approved
    • Sandwiches
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Salads
  • Travel
    • Africa
    • Arctic
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Oceania
    • USA
  • Lifestyle
    • Eco Corner
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Finance
    • Gifts
    • Healthy Voyager Approved
    • Holidays
    • Home
    • Product Reviews
  • Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Health & Beauty News
    • Mind + Body
    • Pets
    • Relationship Corner
    • Parenthood
    • Weight Loss
    • Women’s Health
  • Shop
    • Cookbook
    • Healthy Voyager Merchandise
    • Entrepreneurial and Business Coaching
    • Financial Coaching
    • Travel Industry Consulting
    • Restaurant, Bar and Food Service Consulting
    • Wellness Coaching
    • E-Books
      • Travel Guides
        • Spain
        • France
        • Australia
      • Cookbooks
        • Winter Wonderland
        • Restaurant Appetizers
  • Book Travel
  • Contact
102K
59K
44K
26K
2K
The Healthy Voyager
The Healthy Voyager
  • About
    • About The Healthy Voyager
    • Press
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • HVTV
    • The Healthy Voyager Travel Show
    • The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen
    • The Healthy Voyager’s TV Guest Appearances
    • Healthy Voyager Radio
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dressings & Sauces
    • Entrees
    • Holiday
    • Kid Approved
    • Sandwiches
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Salads
  • Travel
    • Africa
    • Arctic
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Oceania
    • USA
  • Lifestyle
    • Eco Corner
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Finance
    • Gifts
    • Healthy Voyager Approved
    • Holidays
    • Home
    • Product Reviews
  • Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Health & Beauty News
    • Mind + Body
    • Pets
    • Relationship Corner
    • Parenthood
    • Weight Loss
    • Women’s Health
  • Shop
    • Cookbook
    • Healthy Voyager Merchandise
    • Entrepreneurial and Business Coaching
    • Financial Coaching
    • Travel Industry Consulting
    • Restaurant, Bar and Food Service Consulting
    • Wellness Coaching
    • E-Books
      • Travel Guides
        • Spain
        • France
        • Australia
      • Cookbooks
        • Winter Wonderland
        • Restaurant Appetizers
  • Book Travel
  • Contact
  • Mind + Body
  • Wellness

How to Cope with Lockdown Anxiety

  • April 19, 2020
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Anxiety and DepressionWith the World Health Organization declaring the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, many states are enforcing emergency lockdowns in an effort to keep the virus from spreading. When you’re stuck inside your home, in a small space with your family or housemates, nerves are bound to snap. This, combined with uncertainty over when these safety measures will come to an end, panic over dwindling resources, and information overload results in the perfect recipe for anxiety and loneliness at a scale never before seen. 

All of a sudden, the things that were normally recommended to help you cope with these feelings, such as getting fresh air, going out, and meeting with friends, are now prohibited. It’s a different kind of loss of freedom. We’re not locked in cells. Most of us are not under immediate threat, and we can leave for short periods, but it still feels disconcerting. So how do you cope with anxiety in these circumstances?

Acknowledge Your Anxiety, Don’t Try to Deflect It

The first thing you have to do is acknowledge your anxiety and accept it. The more you try to repress it or distract yourself from it, the more you’ll be increasing your stress levels. Generally, the more you try to think about not doing something, the more likely you are to do it. Although anxiety seems like the enemy because it’s an uncomfortable feeling, it’s actually a beneficial mechanism. It motivates us to be cautious and prepare. Without your anxiety, you’d be more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors. There would be no automatic reactions making you think of the negative consequences. 

The key is to practice tolerating anxiety. This is very counterintuitive, but allowing anxiety to be present, acknowledging it, and reminding yourself that it’s ok to feel this way will make it more manageable. That’s why therapists focus on teaching their clients how to “cope” with unpleasant emotions, not how to “get rid” of them. 

Try to Stick to Your Normal Routine

Those of us with children know how important a routine is to reduce tantrums. If you’ve started working from home, you can easily slip into a more lethargic lifestyle. Unfortunately, this can lead to negative thinking. 

Try to give your days a structure.  Wake up and go to sleep at around the same time, get out of your pajamas, shower, and eat regular meals. Do your laundry and clean the house every weekend like you usually would. A chaotic home can lead to a chaotic mind. Keeping your home clean, organized, and predictable will help you cope with the uncertainty happening outside. Clutter, on the other hand, will make you feel more claustrophobic. 

You can organize your day by creating mental zones for various activities. Eat at your kitchen table and work at your desk. If you start eating and working in bed, you’re basically increasing the time you spend just lying in bed, and you’ll start feeling tired and sluggish, like you’re bed-bound.   

Following a schedule will not only make it easier to readjust once the lockdown is over, but it will also keep you active and less likely to spiral. 

Practice Self-Care

You can reframe the lockdown as a chance to slow down and focus more on yourself. Since our exposure to natural light is limited right now, this will affect your melatonin and serotonin levels – both important to maintaining your mental health. You’ll want to avoid using your phone or laptop in bed as the screens emit blue light, which disrupts your circadian rhythm. Try to make your home as light and airy as possible, look into Vitamin D supplements and light therapy lamps. 

During this time, you need to be mindful of your physical and emotional needs and look after yourself. Maybe you’re not able to work out at the gym or by playing outdoors sports, but you can run on the spot or download an exercise app and follow an easy routine. There are tons of good ones for free. By getting enough exercise and sleep, you’ll be increasing your resilience to stress and anxiety. 

Avoid Unhealthy Habits

Lately, there have been many jokes on social media about drinking wine to cope with the lockdown. It’s important to remember that alcohol is a depressant. You might feel more relaxed for the moment, but it will have a negative impact on the quality of your sleep, and it’s addictive. 

If your anxiety is making it harder to fall asleep, taking a bath about 90 minutes before bedtimes could help. The drop in the body’s core temperature will make you sleepy. You can also get a weighted blanked and listen to guided meditation. 

Sales in CBD products like the ones from Organic CBD Nugs have increased as a result of the lockdown. CBD is not a psychoactive cannabinoid, and it’s not addictive. There’s a lot of research looking into its therapeutic benefits, and results suggest it can help with both anxiety and insomnia. A 2019 study  with 72 participants measured the effect of CBD on anxiety and sleep quality. Each person from the experimental group received a 25 mg CBD capsule per day. After four weeks, 79.2% of them reported experiencing lowers levels of anxiety, and 66.7% reported being able to sleep better. Maybe people are on to something. It’s definitely better than trying to drink your worries away. There’s a lot of research looking into its therapeutic benefits, and results suggest it can help with both anxiety and insomnia.

Don’t Obsess Over Coronavirus News

Although staying informed is important, the brain can only take so much information before it begins to overload, leading to more anxiety. It’s a bit of a vicious circle because, as our anxiety levels increase, the more we crave information. We keep thinking that if we read the right articles, watch the right shows or tune in to the right station, we’ll learn something that will help us stay safe and will give us a sense of control. Soon you’ll be consumed with 24/7 news giving you contradictory messages. 

You need to give yourself a break, a chance to distance yourself from panic-inducing headlines and process things rationally. Limit yourself to trusted sources and in small increments — for example, only 30 minutes twice a day. You want to stay both informed and sane. How do you cope with anxiety?

Related Posts:

  • Top Tips To Help You Manage Anxiety
    Top Tips To Help You Manage Anxiety
  • Things You Can Do to Support Your Health During Lockdown
    Things You Can Do to Support Your Health During Lockdown
  • How to Overcome a Fear of Flying
    How to Overcome a Fear of Flying
  • How to Deal with Anxiety During Coronavirus
    How to Deal with Anxiety During Coronavirus
  • How Job Loss Affects Mental Health (and How to Cope)
    How Job Loss Affects Mental Health (and How to Cope)
  • Employer Compliance With COVID-19 Regulations and Safety Directives
    Employer Compliance With COVID-19 Regulations and…
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Tags
  • anxiety
  • coronavirus
  • health
  • lockdown
  • prevention
  • wellness
Carolyn Scott-Hamilton

The Healthy Voyager, aka Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, is the creator and host of The Healthy Voyager web series, site, and overall brand. An award winning healthy, special diet and green living and travel expert, holistic nutritionist, plant based vegan chef, best-selling cookbook author, media spokesperson, sought after speaker, consultant and television personality, Carolyn Scott-Hamilton is a respected figure in the world of healthy lifestyle and travel as well as special diet cooking and nutrition. The Healthy Voyager aims to help people live well, one veggie at a time!

2 comments
  1. angella lika says:
    April 25, 2020 at 6:34 am

    The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt one of the heaviest strikes in human history. Destroying jobs, destroying friendships and limited access to health care can have devastating consequences
    Now all the forces of doctors are directed to the treatment of patients with coronavirus. But there are also other patients who require help. These are cancer patients, people with cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and many other groups of the population. The situation with quarantines has hit the psyche of people very much. Even those who seemed to be balanced now are at a loss. Someone even begins to drink alcohol that would be forgotten, and someone is looking for salvation in taking some drugs.

  2. angella lika says:
    April 25, 2020 at 6:35 am

    People with a substance use disorder were also at risk. This is medical and psychological help that is important for them. But this group of people can’t go to clinics now because their immunity is ruined by drugs. To help drug addicts in the U.S. are taking additional precautions https://addictionresource.com/treatment/addiction-during-covid-19-outbreak/ to minimize the risk of coronavirus infection of their patients indoors. To preserve the life and health of all people is an important mission. On the mental state of a person depends on how well will develop his life and further relationships

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet The Healthy Voyager
Carolyn Scott, The Healthy VoyagerHi! I'm Carolyn Scott-Hamilton. I'm a Latina holistic nutritionist, vegan chef, cookbook author, speaker, show host, consultant and healthy travel and lifestyle expert. From video web series and travel articles, to product reviews and healthy, vegan and gluten free recipes, you'll find lots of info for a happier, healthier and greener lifestyle! After all, Life is a voyage, live it well!
Follow The Healthy Voyager
Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on About.meFollow Us on iTunesFollow Us on E-mailFollow Us on IMDbFollow Us on Amazon.comFollow Us on Snapchat
Healthy Voyager TV
1/27
Next»
By PoseLab
Show more videos»
Subscribe to My Newsletter
Enter Your Email Address
For Email Marketing you can trust
Shop
I’m so excited to share the newest episode of my Healthy Voyager Travel show ✈️ This time you get to join me in beautiful Tulum Mexico 🌴Check out incredible places to stay, stunning sights, spas, places to find tasty treats and more! *Link to video in bio* Special thanks to @elpeztulum and @mayan_clay_spa_bathhouse for the magical experience 🥰 #HvonTour #whereintheworldisthehealthyvoyager #travelshow #worldnomads #topdecker #instatravel #instashare  #travelgram #travelzoo #wanderlust #instahub #topdeck #instagood #instago #travel #followme #ladiesgoneglobal #lonelyplanet #gltlove #skyscannerambassadors #femmetravel #luxuryworldtraveler #gtl #femaletravelcollective #travacs #mexico #thediscoverer #latinastravel https://youtu.be/1Lh6B7x-ov0  #journeysofgirls #tulum 1K 24
My adventures in San Miguel de Allende continued! Pictured is just one of the hidden gems I discovered in this magical Mexican town 💕 *Link to post in bio* Special thanks to @enroute_communications @turismosma @casa1810 for the magical trip! ❤️#HvonTour #whereintheworldisthehealthyvoyager #travelshow #worldnomads #topdecker #instatravel #instashare  #travelgram #travelzoo #wanderlust #instahub #topdeck #instagood #instago #travel #followme #ladiesgoneglobal #lonelyplanet #gltlove #skyscannerambassadors #femmetravel #luxuryworldtraveler #gtl #mexico #femaletravelcollective #travacs #sanmigueldeallende #thediscoverer #latinastravel https://healthyvoyager.com/things-to-do-in-san-miguel-de-allende-2/ 1K 30
San Miguel de Allende stole my heart and I’m stoked to share my first post on why! From where the stay to what to see to where to eat, I’ve got you covered! *Link to post in bio* Special thanks to @enroute_communications @turismosma @hhsantuariosma for the magical trip! ❤️#HvonTour #whereintheworldisthehealthyvoyager #travelshow #worldnomads #topdecker #instatravel #instashare  #travelgram #travelzoo #wanderlust #instahub #topdeck #instagood #instago #travel #followme #ladiesgoneglobal #lonelyplanet #gltlove #skyscannerambassadors #femmetravel #luxuryworldtraveler #gtl #mexico #femaletravelcollective #travacs #sanmigueldeallende #thediscoverer #latinastravel https://healthyvoyager.com/things-to-do-in-san-miguel-de-allende/ 1K 35
Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s, Galentine’s or Palentine’s, you owe it to yourself to do something fun this love filled holiday weekend. I’m prepping for a super fun drive in movie night complete with cozy bedding, tasty beverages and of course, the most important part, snacks! And my go to for a delicious yet health conscious snack is @goodtogosnacks bars! 1K 26
Full moons have a lot of "lore" around them and rightfully so. From werewolves to witches, full moons are tied to all sorts of eerie things. And guess what? During the full moon, the critters inside you come out to play too! Why’s that? It’s because parasites thrive off serotonin, which increases in the body with the full moon. This makes it the perfect time to detox those pesky parasites and their unpleasant side effects. #betteroutthanin 1K 31
I’m so excited to share the third episode of my Healthy Voyager Travel show series on my road trip through Scotland! This time you get to join me on my adventures in and around Edinburgh as well as visiting my ancestral castle and @outlander_starz filming locations 💕 Special thanks to @parliamenthousehotel @dunstanehouses and @eurocar_rentacar for making this adventure possible 🤩 *Link to video in bio* #HvonTour #whereintheworldisthehealthyvoyager #travelshow #worldnomads #topdecker #instatravel #instashare  #travelgram #travelzoo #wanderlust #instahub #topdeck #instagood #instago #travel #followme #ladiesgoneglobal #lonelyplanet #gltlove #skyscannerambassadors #femmetravel #luxuryworldtraveler #gtl #femaletravelcollective #travacs #scotland #thediscoverer #latinastravel https://youtu.be/0il6CtJ8JfA 1K 36
Facebook 102K Likes
Twitter 59K Followers
Instagram 44K Followers
Pinterest 26K Followers
YouTube 2K Subscribers
LinkedIn
Snapchat

Follow HealthyVoyager on Snapchat!

Copyright The Healthy Voyager 2020

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT