Generalised Anxiety Disorder
COVID had a huge impact on society. Our everyday activities were threatened or curtailed. Like in a horror film, we wore masks (which I found suffocating). In early lockdown, the authorities allowed us out of our homes for one hour per day. Imagine living in a high-rise block and having the luxury of a one-hour window to walk outside and breathe.
The weather was blisteringly hot that spring and summer. My family were fortunate; we shared a large communal garden, and we used that downtime to work off the backlog of garden projects.
During COVID, I wrote a book about Generalised Anxiety Disorder. My research indicated that if you had a fear/phobia/anxiety and it was recognised by your doctor, the referral to a specialist therapist would take between nine and twelve months. So how do you manage your anxiety stuck in your high-rise flat for 23 hours per day during that long wait?
Here is the solution in one page (but my book, Anxiety Quick Wins, goes into greater detail):
Nutrition: eat well – fresh fruit and vegetables. Salmon and eggs (they contain all your essential amino acids). Look after your body.
Hydration: if you’re 2-3% dehydrated, that can affect your concentration by up to 30%.
Exercise: get out of the flat and walk in nature. Generally, be as close to nature as possible. Fields, trees, country paths. If you’re in an urban space, go and walk in a park. Whatever, do what is safe and practicable.
Sleep: it’s easy to say sleep well. But if you’re already anxious, it may not help. Your eight hours of sleep is an investment in your overall health and wellbeing. Tiredness kills creativity and leads to greater frustration. Avoid your phone for the last few hours of the day. Avoid its blue light, which keeps you awake. Set your alarm early in the evening so you’re not tempted to scroll through your messages in the bedroom.
Social connection: spend time with loved ones. Visit friends and family (where possible). Develop a wide social network of people with similar interests. That way you’ll have a variable group of friends who are randomly available. Check in with friends, family and colleagues regularly; they need friendship and connection too.
Invest in what you love: During COVID, I bought several books, spent days researching their value, and produced a book almost out of nothing. As mentioned, my wife and I spent endless days in the garden working on improvement projects. When the one-hour curfew ended, we spent a lot of time on country drives and walking in nature. Every day was full. We never had a dull moment. I’m always doing things I love. When I have a disappointment or setback, I’m always close to my family, hobbies and pastimes. The eighteen months out of the classroom flew by. But boy, was I ready to return to the conventional world?
