[DeletedAccount53]

Edited: Contains content from the blog 'Got Pandemic Fatigue?'

The latest covid news in our little city-state of Monaco is 33 new covid cases on 13 Jan, bringing total to 1,128: 21 hospitalised: 13 resident + 8 in ICU: 6 resident, 122 being monitored at home, 926 recoveries,7 deaths.

Many including Julie and I have been feeling down, so according to the World Health Organisation, up to 60% of Europeans are apathetic, exhausted and stressed. Apparently, we are becoming increasingly frustrated with government restrictions and growing resistant to changing Covid-19 protocols. It seems we want our lives back. But, how can we get through this crisis for which there seems no end in sight?

What arguably makes pandemic anxiety feel more intense is the threat to our existence. This is existential anxiety. The threats seem to be coming at us from all angles. Some of us might lose our jobs. That can also mean losing our identity. Also, our health is being threatened. That seems pretty existential to me. The more we feel that we don’t have the resources to cope with these threats, the greater the anxiety felt. How can we manage anxiety? The tricky balance is to acknowledge our reality but not to get caught up in catastrophising events. We can have a tendency to let negative thoughts escalate when we feel anxious. We fear the worst. In most cases, the worst is not what happens. If you meditate, practice this as often as possible. If you think that’s all a bit lightweight, google mindful breathing.

But at the same time we grapple with whether we will have jobs down the line, whether our children will be sent home from school, the health of our elderly parents, the loneliness of our lives, the stress of our relationships (add to the list, as appropriate), how can we not be grieving? Grief is the emotional experience of reacting to a loss of something that’s important to us. Amongst other things, we have lost our way of being in the world as a result of this pandemic. It could be as simple as losing our daily routine or as significant as losing our identity as a result of a job loss.

For those some of you may know who have died and like Julie and I, our lovely old neighbours who have died from this terrible disease, let’s give ourselves permission to grieve what we have lost. The traditional stages of loss are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The stages are not necessarily linear, so we could spend weeks, months or years in any one stage. So if you are feeling like this, make a list of your losses, small and large, and discuss them with someone close to you. Validate each other.

Is it just us or does it feel like every TV program, radio show and social media post, is about Corona this, Corona that, Corona right now? This constant exposure to news reports, statistics and even fake news stories designed to freak us out, makes it hard to escape corona-anxiety.

While it’s important to keep up to date with developments in order to stay safe, your brain might appreciate a little break. For example, try just listening to the headlines or to the Prime Minister’s daily update before turning over to something less corona-y. Turn news notifications off your phone. And don't believe everything you hear. Fake news designed to scare you is doing the rounds on social media, so make sure you get your news for reputable sources, like BBC News

Take a break from social media. Or if that’s not possible, try curating your feed by only following accounts posting supportive content. You can also try muting WhatsApp groups if you find them anxiety-inducing. And focus on the good stuff. It might be hard to believe, but there’s lots of good stuff going on in the world right now. Keep an eye on stories like the one about the 95-year-old woman in Italy who recently recovered from the virus. Or about the positive effect the pandemic is having on the environment.

Self-isolation may be making you loopy, but staying home is the most important and effective thing you can do to help overcome corona. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It doesn’t feel natural to practice social distancing with our mates and home can begin to feel claustrophobic, especially if you have a difficult relationship with your family or housemates. Prioritize your Self-care and exercise - get out for a brisk walk! Keep an eye on developments, but for now, it's safe to leave the house once a day for exercise if you’re feeling well. Really make the most of this by getting out for a decent walk, run or cycle every day – exercise is one of the best things you can do for your mental health.