coronavirus fears

how to deal with the anxiety

Buying at the grocery store to outrageous claims on social media that fuel the fear.

Abc 36's christy bollinger sat down with a lexington psychologist to talk about why people are reacting this way and how to deal with it.

Because of the coronavirus...the new 'normal' is abnormal to most of us.

From social isolation to empty store shelves of basic items, it all contributes to fear, anxiety and stress.

'what we know is there are two things our brains are wired to feel stress about and one is uncertainty and the other is discomfort."

Dr. katherine stone, a licensed psychologist, says the coronavirus is certainly causing discomfort...people are out of their routines...there's an uneasiness in day- to-day life...and, an uncertainty about what's going to happen in the future.

"we have no protocol from the past to be able to know what's coming next."

She says people are currently using the middle part of their brains, the limbic system..

The part that tells us to go into flight, fight or freeze.

'they're going into that fight or flight and to decrease their anxiety they're hoarding goods that they think they might need and it's really unnecessary it's not very patriotic and it doesn't help the community as a whole."

Which is why stores are running out of toilet paper..

Baby formula..

Hand sanitizer..

And more.

'people are so panicky that they're doing things that in their minds that they feel like will help them with survival."

Dr. stone says we need to get back to using the top part of our brains..

That uses logic, reasoning and planning.

And she says the first step to do that..

Is being aware, expecting and accepting the anxiety this will bring.

"we know we can override the limbic system or the emotional part of the brain by doing mindfulness activities whether it's doing square breathing whether it's focusing on the breath whether it's meditation or prayer but these things can help to calm."

Trying to get some sort of routine during this chaos.

"we're used to it with our work life our kids are used to it with their school lives so if we can create some of that at home."

She says even limiting time watching t-v... or looking at social media.

"watching the news catching up on the stuff is important but monitor yourself if it's making you anxious or if it's all you're consuming all day."

Dr stone says it's important to focus on what we're gaining right now.... not what we're losing.

And, that our reality now..

Won't be our reality forever.

Christy bollinger, abc 36 news.