AST March 2020 Magazine AST March 2020 Magazine | Page 28

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March 2020 - Edition 42
What are some tips for dealing thoughts about a situation.
with anxiety about the corona- • In contrast, rational thoughts are
accurate and based on facts.
facts .
virus?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or
panicked about the coronavirus,
you can take steps to help keep
your anxiety controlled.
controlled .
Keep your news consumption to
two to three credible sources for
30 minutes or less per day:
• Too much news consumption
can make your anxiety worse.
• So if you’re feeling over-
whelmed by the media cover-
age of COVID-19, then make an
effort to keep it to a minimum.
minimum .
• If you notice that you’re anxious
at night, avoid the news a few
hours before bed.
• An example of a rational thought
would be: “There is a risk that
I could catch the virus. But if I
take the recommended pre-
cautions, , then I will significant-
cautions
ly decrease my risk.”
• Irrational thoughts foster anxi-
ety, while rational thoughts help
you view a situation more ac-
curately and calmly.
Practice at least 5 minutes of re-
laxation each day:
• Counteract your stress with
time spent in relaxation by tak-
ing a hot bath, reading a book,
or meditating.
• If you’re unsure what to do, you
can try deep breathing.
breathing .
Challenge your irrational thoughts
• Counteract your stress with time
and replace them with facts:
facts :
spent in relaxation.
relaxation .
• Irrational thoughts and beliefs • For some people this may mean
are untrue or exaggerated taking a hot bath
bath, , reading a
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