How a Panic Attack Can Mimic the Symptoms of COVID-19
A sense of upcoming disaster, shortness of breath, and sweating – these are the symptoms of a panic attack, which are absolutely unpleasant. However, in this age of the COVID-19, these symptoms can be totally confusing – particularly for people who encounter them for the first time. Here is how a panic attack can mimic the symptoms of COVID-19 and how you can handle your pandemic-associated anxiety generally.
Shortness of Breath: A Symptom of both Anxiety and COVID-19. How to Differentiate?
When your anxiety or fear trigger suddenly, a panic attack occurs. The precise result is not the same in every individual, but basic signs incorporate some common symptoms which are similar in COVID-19: a feeling of chills or feverishness, shortness of breath, and chest pain. In case you are experiencing serious breathing trouble or chest pain for a particular time or completely ill, you must contact a doctor. But if you consider them anxiety symptoms, you can follow some tactics.
You can concentrate on making your breathing more structured by lying down and counting through square breathing, where you count to 4 during inhaling, make a pause for a count of 4, exhale on a count of 4, and finally make a pause for another count of 4 before beginning again. This makes your body steady and helps get normal oxygen flowing. Your body must stop tensing up when you don’t feel starved for air anymore. Your panic possibly will not disappear immediately, but it will deplete.
What to Do When You Are Already Aware Of Your Anxiety?
People, who are already diagnosed with anxiety disorder, should follow their general coping strategies. If you know working out helps reduce your anxiety, keep doing that. Go for runs or walks outside as much as you can or do yoga at home. If your doctor has already prescribed some medicines, keep taking them. Don’t stop reading journals if they manage your stress. Eating properly, getting enough amount of sleep, and detaching from the news often can give your mind a break.
What to Do If You Are Encountering Anxiety for the First Time?
Meditation is an amazing thing to do if you are seeking a stress buster. The concept of mindfulness really helps a lot. When you are in a condition with many fast-changing circumstances, your first instinct is to resist reality. And in doing so, you just add to your own anguish.
Face COVID is a series of steps for handling anxiety and fear during COVID-19. Focus on everything in your control.
Accept what you are feeling. If you recognize that you are encountering grief or anxiety, it can encourage you to be kind to yourself and make your mind understand to avoid those feelings.
Re-enter your body. You might not prefer meditation, but grounding yourself and taking deep breaths can help you acquire a sense of control of yourself again.
Involve in what you are doing. Focus on everything you are doing and don’t think about your anxiety.
Be compassionate and patient with yourself, involve in your own feelings, give emotional support to others and maintain distance to disinfect and protect yourself.