Struggling atm? Here’s how to deal with your emotions during the coronavirus crisis.

Emotions spilling all over the place? Taking it out on those around you? We feel ya, here’s what you need to know.

What do you get when you stick 2 or more people into isolation for several weeks at a time? Arguments. Whether you’re in confinement with loved ones or battling it alone, there’s no denying that it’s tough. Our usual coping mechanics may no longer be there, so we’ve put together our top tips on how to deal with your emotions during the coronavirus crisis. Remember that we’ll all experience negative emotions and that’s okay. What isn’t okay is denying that they exist and locking them away because that won’t help you in the long run.

Feeling angry/annoyed

Woah, we feel you on this one. With less physical space and feelings of restriction, it’d be kinda weird if you weren’t feeling an element of anger; whether that’s at the situation or the people around you. Here are some things you could try:

• Go for a jog, alone (and this is important because we all need personal space in order to let off some steam)
• Do something that requires physical exertion – if you don’t have a punch bag at hand, be creative with what you do have – ideas could include throwing rocks into a local lake or sea front, digging or gardening that requires a lot of physical movement or ripping up old paperwork or packaging. The physical activity will help your body metabolise cortisol, which is the stress hormone responsible for making you feel angry af.
• Rant – whether it’s to your loved ones or written down in a journal, let some of that emotion out. A step up from this would be to tear the note from out of your journal and rip it to shreds afterwards.
• Listen to angry music and allow yourself to just bathe in your anger for a bit. Best to do it in isolation and with headphones on – it’s never healthy or okay to let your anger spill out on to other people.
• Do something that makes you feel fulfilled – like learning a new skill or doing something that will help take your mind off it for a while.

Feeling anxious

We’re surrounded by uncertainty and the reality of a relatively unknown illness and so you may be relieved to know that in general, the rates of anxiety have increased – but that doesn’t mean yours has to. 

• Limit the amount of news you consume, it’s mostly always bad and quite often isn’t a fully accurate representation of what’s actually going on.
• Use this as an opportunity to strike a healthier relationship with social media – try to scroll past posts that are fueling your anxiety. Go on an unfollow spree and remove accounts that don’t make you feel good about yourself.
• Have a digital detox – take time each day to just sit and do nothing. If you’re able to, surround yourself with nature or open a window to let the sound of nature pour in. Turn your phone off and set yourself the challenge of withdrawing from screens for at least an hour a day.
• Set boundaries by asking your friends and family to not send you any news stories without first getting your permission. 
• Remember that there is a lot of misinformation out there designed to make you feel anxious about the situation, so check out our top tips on filtering fact from fiction here.

Feeling sad

There’s no way of sugarcoating the situation – the reality of it sucks. Yes, we’ll be okay and make it through this. Yes, it’ll make you stronger and yes, you’ve got this – but sometimes all the positivity in the world doesn’t make it feel any better. That’s why it’s important not to deny yourself feelings of sadness.

• Cry – it’s scientifically proven that crying can be good for you as it helps release negative emotions and feelings of sadness. If you struggle doing this, an idea might be to listen to sad music or watch a sad movie alone and be open to crying.
• Practice self-care and do things that help you relax. If you are able to, spending time alone in the bath or meditating can be the perfect way of removing distractions and processing feelings of sadness. 
• Try to limit activities to things that are calming and remember that it’s perfectly normal and healthy to feel sad at the moment.
• Connect with your loved ones and tell them how you’re feeling.
• Remind yourself of the things you are grateful for – many people have a gratitude diary where they write down 3 things that they are grateful for from their day.

Feeling lonely

It would be unusual if you hadn’t had lonely vibes lately and it makes perfect sense – suddenly we’re all cut off from many of the people we care about but it’s important to remember that they are still there and are going through the same feelings as you.

• Recognise that we all have social needs and it’s perfectly natural to feel thrown off if yours aren’t being met as they once were.
• Be vocal and keep in touch with your loved ones. Regular phone/video calls can make the world of difference.
• Reminisce over old photos and funny memories that you have with people as a reminder that this situation is only temporary.
• Use social media to connect with others who share similar interests with you.
• Spend a bit of time watching vlogs from people you admire and hearing how they’re coping with lockdown. 

Feeling suicidal/depressed/severely anxious

If you are currently feeling suicidal, it’s really important that you get urgent advice from a crisis prevention practitioner. Remember, it’s okay to feel like this but feelings can change and pass. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you matter and you deserve help to get through this.

Click here for safe contacts you can speak to. If you have feelings of severe anxiety or are feeling depressed, we recommend speaking with your GP or medical practitioner. We are not trained medical practitioners and cannot formally diagnose or treat health issues such as depression.

Whatever it is you’re feeling ATM, know that you most certainly aren’t alone and we’re here to help you figure it out. If this article helped, don’t forget to give it a thumbs up. If there’s something we didn’t cover or you’d like to chat with one of our support mentors, click here to join our support community or check out useful resources here.