How are you handling anxiety in this time of COVID-19?

Good for you!! 👍😊

Hi @charlie1953, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that @guener's wise words stuck a chord with you. They did me too, especially the part where he said "I can only try to influence what I can now for me and for those closest to me, and that is enough." And I concur. That is enough.

Charlie, how are you doing? What helps you to calm concerns and rising anxieties?

If you want to watch something serenely beautiful and calming, check this out from the Monterrey Aquarium:

I really enjoy hearing how others are dealing with anxiety at this time. My husband can't leave the house due to lung issues. But, if I don't leave the house, I'd have to kill him! He's a dear and wonderful person but we handle stress completely differently. So I'm still working as a home health caregiver in our small community. Employees and our clients are monitored daily in terms of health. So far I am considered healthy and can go into homes. However, since there's no testing and we can have the virus without symptoms, I don't think anyone can be considered really healthy unless we are tested. But people depend on home health care for medical, medication, and personal care, because there is no one else to help them. I'm 76 and several of my clients are younger than me. It's a challenging situation for people who need help and people in the helping professions.

@artscaping We play Hand and Foot - a form of Canasta. 4 hands take about 2 hours, exercises our strategic thinking and counting skills, and we stick to pleaseant conversation topics, so it's refreshing. Plus we live in tiny homes, 100 - 400 square feet, so for those of us with partners/spouses, it gives us time apart. Since we all usually have many separate activities to occupy us this is a great stress reliever.

@georgette 12 I know how hard you work just be very careful and safe from a former nurse

@sueinmn Love hand and foot use to play every week but no more can't find anyone here to play

Hi there @sueinmn, Hand and Foot. I hear the ladies at Mahjongg talking about that game. Do you have to remember a lot of things and sequence plays. That doesn't work well with my recent memory issues. Mahjongg works because the other players at the table quickly learn that they need to whisper what play is required all through the opening when you pass tiles. 2 hours is about my max for sitting.

Tell me about your tiny homes....when are they? Do you find it difficult in such a small area? We are finding that sometimes we don't talk from breakfast or brunch......until it is time for dinner. And sometimes we forget about dinner. It is still a bit brisk to go outside so we do yoga in the living room every morning. I want OUT. Can't sleep! I need to walk outside.

Be safe and protected. Chris

@artscaping
Hi Chris - I'm hoping by the time I go home to Minnesota, our senior center will reopen so I can keep playing Hand & Foot.
Tiny homes - My home here is an older 400 square foot mobile home, called a "Park Model" because it is specifically intended to be in an RV Park, one bedroom, bath, "great room" (giggle) - that includes 5X6 kitchen area (one person at a time please) 4X6 dinette/all purpose table area, and a modest living room. This is like paradise for us, we used to winter in a 6.5'X18' camper without our own bathroom! And while it is smaller than our northern home, we have always lived in a fairly small house, so except for missing my sewing room & not having my own washer & dryer, this is pretty nice for us. Being old for a mobile, we have the usual maintenance issues, fortunately my husband can fix most of them. Our friends have dwellings like ours, or campers or motor homes. They range in size from around 100 square feet to maybe 750. Many of us have a covered patio or enclosed porch, which is where most socializing happens. And when we're not on lockdown we have two wonderful buildings for numerous activities plus a pool. These are open now for necessary things like mail, but no gathering. Here in Deep South Texas, we can be outdoors part of almost every day, which eases the closeness. I am also much more of an extrovert, out and about chatting & doing, while my husband stays in except for his few select activities.
But the small area can be a challenge - especially now with travel beyond our small park so severely limited. If it gets tense I just go for a walk, whether I want to or not. The worst is the constant loud TV from 5pm to midnight with no escape, no matter what is on it. At least there is no daytime TV habit - nor much to watch on our 5 available channels.
I know what you mean about forgetting dinner, but I have been trying to get him and his grill going more often - gets him busy planning & cooking. Also, we find it helpful to plan dinner one day that can be served at least 2 more times. Once as pure leftovers, and then as something else. For example, tonight is smoked & grilled pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes and cole slaw. Tomorrow will be same, except maybe a veg instead. Then I will thin-slice the remaining pork and make hot pork sandwiches and salad (either Wed or into the freezer for a later date.)
Almost time for my morning walk need to grab my coffee & get dressed.
Stay positive and safe
Sue

Love it!! Have a tank at home, but nothing compared to that. Maui every year to play in the water with the fishies, but probably not this year. Have’t canceled yet scheduled for October. (Maui closed it’s doors) If we have a decent summer here, I will pretend. Thank you for sharing.