Anxiety in the covid19 lockdown

The lockdown is here.

And it's great that some people are staying home, starting projects or doing things they always wanted to try out.

I envy that slightly.

I still have to go to work so I don't have that luxury of time that everyone seems to have right now.

But also, I have anxiety. I been at home during the weekends and wow, I feel even more anxious at home without anything to distract me. Atleast at work, I have work to distract me.

So when I see posts that go, instead of being anxious, go start a project or do things that you always want to do, only pisses me off.

Do you know how anxiety works?

Because that's not it.

Anxiety is like having that voice at the back of your head, just going off. Imagine an alarm going off. Anxiety is an alarm.

Yes, you can ignore that alarm for a while.

But it's still there.

So all these advice such as go do something you like, it's not very helpful. 
I can't do anything I like right now.
I just want it to be over.
I want covid19 to be gone.

But life doesn't work that way.

So if you're someone with anxiety like me, the better advice is to breathe. To know that this too will pass. To practice good hygiene. Practice gratefulness. 

Come up with a project you want to do when this is all over to give you something to look forward to.

Distract yourself with a favourite show, movie or book. Drink tea.
Whatever self care that you been practicing, now is a good time to practice them more and harder.

I'm anxious too.

But this too shall pass.

So stay safe everyone. Take care.