Coronavirus Anxiety

There’s no way around it, the current global health pandemic is a grim experience. We are all living in unprecedented times, and as global health concerns continue to mount, an initial sense of panic has made way for a deeper unsettling anxiety.

To some degree, we are all anxious at this moment. We fear for our health, the safety of loved ones, the stress of work, the difficulty of unemployment, or the loss of special moments we had planned.

As lockdowns continue in many places in the United States, we find ourselves in the very unique position of having to manage ourselves completely.

There is no boss stopping by to check on us, and no dinner plans to make. This can be an understandingly difficult state for many, and the anxiety it causes only makes matters worse.

The first thing you should know is that it's okay to be anxious right now. Nobody is certain how and when this pandemic will end, and the unknown is an intimidating thing.

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Book on our free mobile app or website.
Our doctors operate in all 50 states and same day appointments are available every 15 minutes.
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See a doctor, get treatment and a prescription at your local pharmacy.
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Use your health insurance just like you normally would to see your doctor.

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However, it is important that we each do our best to manage our own anxiety and to help others through theirs to reduce the spread of panic.

COVID-19 | The Facts

Below we’ve compiled some of the most up to date statistics on the coronavirus.

With these, we hope to help you cut through the headlines and empower yourself with facts. Understanding the reality of the situation is the first step to managing our response to it.

As of November 2 2020, approximately ****45 million**** people have confirmed cases of the virus worldwide.

Of those cases, 1.2 have died and over **34 million** have recovered.

The number of cases in the U.S. is currently over **9.5 million** and the number of deaths is ****236,997****.

It is also true that the number of cases is actually higher than that of confirmed cases, as many people infected with the virus do not show symptoms or seek treatment.

Read: COVID-19 Mental Health Center

Government Response

The U.S. Senate has passed a $2.2 trillion relief fund. Americans making less than $75,000 a year will get $1,200 from the government in the coming months. Learn more here.

A breakdown of the $2.2 trillion relief fund.

Similarly, the government is working on developing adequate testing kits and services. However, it would be shortsighted to ignore the current lack of preparation at many hospitals who are turning away potential carriers not displaying symptoms of the virus.

We give you these facts not to scare or intimidate you, but to present the situation which we all have to cope with. From here, we can begin to manage the anxiety it causes in each of us.

Habits for Handling Anxiety

Take a Break From the Headlines

While some communities are slowly beginning to reopen, the majority of the U.S. remains in lockdown. For a lot of us, that means we have more time to do things like check our phones, watch the news, and gossip with those around us.

Habits like these are impossible to stop altogether. It's only natural that we want to be up to date, and it can be a challenge to avoid speaking about an event unprecedented in our lifetime. However, making an active effort to find times to unplug can go a long way to calming us down, centering our focus, and allowing ourselves to get lost in things we enjoy.

If you’re having a hard time thinking of ways to tune out, we recommend:

Starting a new book
Going on a walk or jog or exercising from home
Playing board games or cards with your fellow quarantinees
Picking up a new arts and crafts habit, like knitting or painting

Really, anything that helps you place the technology aside is a great way to find relief from coronavirus related anxiety.

Rethink Your Perspective

This one’s a little tricker to do, but it's why we wanted to give you the facts. Accepting this new status quo for the foreseeable future is the only way to manage the difficulties that come with it.

In this way, trying to shift your perspective about the little things can fundamentally change how you experience them. For example, if your kids can’t go to school and you feel stuck trying to entertain them while balancing your other responsibilities, consider the fact that someday they’ll be moving out of the house for good. In that moment, a month more with your little ones might be all you ever wanted.

Trying to take on our current challenges as blessings is not an easy task, but doing so opens up the possibility of a more joyous and fulfilling experience.

Find Ways to Connect

Social distancing does not mean anti-social. It can be hard to not be around our friends and family, and isolating ourselves physically can lead to loneliness. Taking the time to reach out loved ones and old friends is one way to fill the isolation with special moments of social connection.

Everyone is in this together, and although we may not be next to one another for a while, we can still demonstrate and appreciate caring for others.

1
Book on our free mobile app or website.
Our doctors operate in all 50 states and same day appointments are available every 15 minutes.
2
See a doctor, get treatment and a prescription at your local pharmacy.
3
Use your health insurance just like you normally would to see your doctor.

Book an appointment

How PlushCare Can Help

If you want professional medical help from your home, look no further. PlushCare is offering mental health support for these difficult times, just click here to make an appointment with one of our licensed doctors.

Furthermore, if you believe you or a loved one may be infected with coronavirus, make an appointment with one of our PlushCare doctors today for an online screening.

Our doctors can assess your condition and risk level and if needed, provide a test order required for many testing sites, including drive throughs.

Whether you want more information from a trusted source (i.e. a medical doctor), you're looking for mental health support or you think you may need testing and treatment for COVID-19, PlushCare is here to help.

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Coronavirus Anxiety