COVID Uncertainty

So much about coronavirus (COVID-19) is outside of our control. Not just the virus itself, but all the other aspects of life that might be impacted, from work and finances to socialising and travel. Give yourself credit as you cope with this tough time and recognise that dealing with this challenge can make you more resilient.

Hold on to your 'stability rocks'

A ‘stability rock’ is a process or practice that adds something reliable to your life when it feels like things are spinning out of control. ‘Stability rocks’ are really grounding and help you to remember that there are some things that are within your control. Your own routines and rituals will become really important at this time when some parts of your life are disrupted (e.g. school, uni, work).

Some examples of ‘stability rocks’ could be:

· Waking up at the same time every day

· Eating regular meals

· Going to bed at the same time

· Doing some form of exercise every morning

· Reaching out to a friend each day

Accept that it is normal to be feeling stressed

Feeling stressed is an understandable response to the current coronavirus pandemic. You might be worried about catching the virus, about how your loved ones will cope, about the disruption to your studies and routines, and about whether you will still have a job and enough money. These stressors, along with the constant media hysteria and dealing with disappointment (travel bans, events being cancelled, etc.), add up to a pretty difficult time.

As hard as things are, it can be comforting to know that you are not alone and that others share your feelings. When you check in with your mates, take note of how they are feeling – it is likely that they are in the same boat as you.

Remember: you are not your thoughts

When you are feeling anxious, tell yourself it is a normal part of being human. It is important to understand that we are not our thoughts. Thoughts may come into your head for a whole bunch of reasons. By accepting that they are not facts, thoughts lose some of their power to upset us.

Try writing down the words that are going through your head, especially when you are in a tough situation. Then read them back as if someone else had written them. This can help you to realise that your thoughts are not you, and to accept them for what they are: just thoughts.

Practice tolerating uncertainty

Predictability helps people to feel they are in control, and reassures them that their lives are settled and nothing bad will happen. On the other hand, having to deal with the unknown can make people anxious. Get a handle on anxiety by practising tolerating uncertainty. You can start by doing small things differently, such as experimenting with cooking a meal without triple-checking the recipe, or picking a random Netflix show to watch without knowing anything about it.

Write down how these behaviours make you feel (before and after doing them). One thing we don’t like about uncertainty is that if we allow it into our life, sometimes things can go wrong.

To use the example of experimenting with cooking, perhaps the meal tastes pretty bad. Write down the outcome and then write down what you did to cope. For example, did you still eat the meal, or did you make something else?

Ask yourself the following questions:

· Did things turn out okay even though I wasn’t 100% certain?

· If things didn't turn out okay, what happened?

· What did I do to cope with the negative outcome?

· Was I able to handle the negative outcome?

· What does this tell me about my ability to cope with negative outcomes in the future?

The idea is to learn that even if things don’t go as planned, you can still deal with them.

Draw on skills you have used before

It is very likely you have dealt with uncertainty before, and you can do it again.

Reflect on what skills you have used in the past to cope with uncertainty, or ask someone who knows you well. Write a list so you have a little toolbox to refer to whenever you are getting anxious.

Your skills could include:

· Focusing on what is in your control, and working with that

· Writing down what is troubling you and what you can do to improve the situation

· Practising self-care activities

· Allowing yourself to take a break from what is bothering you

· Practising positive self-talk

Play to your strengths

Working out what our strengths are, and then playing to them, can give us more confidence in times of uncertainty. Take this free VIA Character Strengths quiz and then have a think about what you can do to act on those strengths. For example, if you are creative, you could spend 30 minutes each day doing something in that area, such as drawing, playing an instrument or experimenting with a new recipe. If a value is ‘humanity’, you could practise acting compassionately and do small, unexpected things for others like checking in on a neighbour or sending a friend a song you think they would like.

Find ways to talk to others

When you are going through a tough time, one of the best and most effective things you can do to feel better is to talk with someone. If an in-person meeting is not possible, organise a time to call, text, WhatsApp, Skype, Google Hangout or Zoom. When you talk to a trusted friend, family member or health professional, tell them what is stressing you out and why. They may not have all the answers, but just sharing what you are going through can help get it out of your head and make it feel less scary.

Stay up to date with the facts

Keeping up to date with factual resources can provide some more certainty about what is happening. Choosing media sources wisely means that you are less likely to get overwhelmed with the constant coverage and it will be easier to stay grounded.

It is a good idea to limit your media intake to a few times a day so you don’t become overwhelmed.