12 ways to cope with anxiety during quarantine. Advice from psychologists
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:21 am
The COVID-19 pandemic is not letting up and continues to scare with its unpredictability. Self-isolation is already quite tiring, and panic is also taking its toll on tense nerves. Business Insider learned from psychologists how to cope with panic, which is now difficult to resist.
An Axios/Ipsos poll of 1,092 U.S. adults found that 78% of men and 82% of women are concerned about the coronavirus outbreak in some way, while Gallup said 60% of American adults experience stress and anxiety on a daily basis.
This is not surprising, says Julie Pike, a clinical psychologist in georgia number data Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “Anxiety is Mother Nature’s way of protecting us by pushing us to deal with uncertainty and find solutions,” said Pike, who specializes in anxiety disorders.
Tell yourself what you are sure of.
Much of our anxiety stems from uncertainty: not knowing how long the pandemic will last, who it will affect, and how it will impact our lives. Natalie Dattilo, chief of psychology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, suggests telling yourself something that leaves no room for doubt, such as, “I know that no matter what happens, we will find a way to get through this,” or “I know that I love my family and will do everything in my power to protect them,” or even “I know that I am standing here today, still breathing, and still seeing the sun.”
“By adding even a small element of confidence to an uncertain situation, you can reconnect with the present moment, feel grounded, and maintain a sense of self-control and self-confidence,” Dattilo explained.
An Axios/Ipsos poll of 1,092 U.S. adults found that 78% of men and 82% of women are concerned about the coronavirus outbreak in some way, while Gallup said 60% of American adults experience stress and anxiety on a daily basis.
This is not surprising, says Julie Pike, a clinical psychologist in georgia number data Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “Anxiety is Mother Nature’s way of protecting us by pushing us to deal with uncertainty and find solutions,” said Pike, who specializes in anxiety disorders.
Tell yourself what you are sure of.
Much of our anxiety stems from uncertainty: not knowing how long the pandemic will last, who it will affect, and how it will impact our lives. Natalie Dattilo, chief of psychology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, suggests telling yourself something that leaves no room for doubt, such as, “I know that no matter what happens, we will find a way to get through this,” or “I know that I love my family and will do everything in my power to protect them,” or even “I know that I am standing here today, still breathing, and still seeing the sun.”
“By adding even a small element of confidence to an uncertain situation, you can reconnect with the present moment, feel grounded, and maintain a sense of self-control and self-confidence,” Dattilo explained.