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

My anxiety is starting to go up. I want to go to the store to buy extra food incase we have to shelter in place for 2 to 3 weeks. He wont let me. I have asthma and am 62 a d I want to go out as least that I have to. I also work for the school system and we still have to care for children of emergency workers. So yes a little scared.

Wow. There are those emergency workers and we want to support them. Yesterday, I thought we (husband and I,68-69 yrs old) need to deliver food to housebound seniors. My husband reminded me that my immune system is still not so good and he was just diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (first round of treatment yesterday), so I had to “reel it in”. You are already dealing w/a respiratory issue. Can you fill a need w/out putting yourself in a risky environment? Maybe there is something you can do more in the “administrative” scope; so that someone else can step in your place. Don’t know all the pieces, but I think your fear is reality based, for no other reason, there are still too many unknowns about this virus. Where I live many stores have crested days/hours for senior only shopping. Surprise, that it not happening where you live. Maybe, you can be instrumental in making that happen. Going a little stir crazy myself, so I can relate.

@suerc- I bet everyone is feeling tenser. I know that I am. I have lung cancer and it's not too great of an idea that I go out. Please tell me more about taking care of children. Are these the children of police and nurses, Drs. and anyone else taking care of emergencies?

My wife and I are empty-nesters in our mid-60s living in Florida. I try to make a daily plan for activities. And, of course, think of new things to do. I never cared much for board games, but I think today is going to include Scrabble with my wife. Unfortunately, I suffer from peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands, which tends to be worse in times of stress, and I have a long-standing anxiety disorder. All things considered, I'm doing fairly well. One thing I always do is get outside. If you're capable, try to figure out ways to get at least a half an hour of vigorous exercise in. I ride my bike around the neighborhood at a fast clip for about 20 minutes, then do some exercises in the house. I'm trying to replicate what I would ordinarily do at my beloved YMCA. I did yoga via YouTube yesterday. I restrict my TV watching to at night, for the most part. I want Netflix etc. as something to look forward to at night, not to burn out on by watching all day. And I only watch short segments of news. If it's important news, it'll get to ya. By the way, it's National Puppy Day, so I suggest celebrating it by looking at pictures of cute puppies. It should raise a smile or two.

Hi, @eric65 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. These are all excellent ideas. Sounds like you are being very proactive in planning activities, and trying to replicate some of your normal routine. I've been getting out walking in the neighborhood or a nearby lake with my mom for walks, since her gym closed, and I think the physical activity is good and that the cardio in addition to the outside time is refreshing for the soul. I am not at all a doomsday type personality, but when I've been out to get some groceries or the like lately it is feeling more empty of people and activity, and kind of dark to me. I think we all could use a lift in any constructive ways we can.

I wanted to let you know that we have a Connect Neuropathy group you might check out for discussions that might be relevant for you https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuropathy/

If you've not yet checked out other discussions in the Connect group this thread is a part of, do look at the threads in the whole Depression & Anxiety group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/depression-anxiety/

How long have you had an anxiety disorder diagnosis, eric65? You mentioned you are doing fairly well right now. What would you say is making the biggest difference for keeping your anxiety reasonably well-managed at this time with the COVID-19 pandemic?

Hurray for National Puppy Day!!! Hello Florida. My husband and I are also empty nesters. Our Y is closed also, but our weather not as good as yours (Washington is the green state for a reason) you have to be part duck to live here. I’m used to running/walking in the wet. Netflix watcher like you guys, but try to limit it too. (May have seen my chat yesterday about learning to speak Chinese and Korean by watching subtitled Netflix shows😀). I don’t know if anyone has talked about this as a time passer. ROCK painting. No artists allowed (not Really) the group in Cowlitz County have over 8,000 members. (Unbelievable, huh?) These groups are everywhere ( many states). It started as a kindness project and turned into a phenomena. You can paint and hide, you can hunt and collect. Rocks r everywhere and supplies can be bought online. Just had a fundraiser -rock bidding war- all online (except rock pickup) raised $ for a struggling family. Anyone can start a group. Everyone monitors their behavior ( we’re all grownups, right?). Everybody ( no ageism) love this. The best thing is it promotes good will and people find a rock and post or create and just post. Many members complimenting/encouraging budding artists. No judgment. I have seen beautiful painted rocks , pictures, patterns ,unlimited possibilities. Have fun. Give a rock Make somebody’s day. Rock on people. Virgo1952 yes, I’m a flower child🤣🤣🤣🤣😊

Thanks for links, Lisa. I guess "doing fairly well" is a relative thing. It's still a major struggle.

I had my first anxiety attack at 19, and struggled through most of my 20s. At around 30 or 31, I met a psychiatrist through an anxiety self-help group. He convinced me it was a brain chemistry issue, and put me on a Prozac and Clonazapam. It kicked right in and I would say that my anxiety was under control — often not even a factor — for 35 years. I would have setbacks occasionally, but was able to work through them. I retired from full-time work in late 2018, and everything was bliss. I had a nice freelance writing business. We were all set to travel, get out of Florida in the summer. Then early last July, shortly after returning from a three-day trip to a resort in Pennsylvania for a travel writing assignment, I got hit with a massive case of itching. That quickly transitioned into tingling in my hands. I was having nights with only intermittent sleep. On advice of a neurologist, I increased my low dose of Clonazepam.

My anxiety spiked way up and stayed after the neuropathy took hold. Switching to LexaPro helped. But I'm still struggling. Probably worst of all, my neuropathy has worsened so that my toes and fingertips are numb, my feet often burn, usually at night, and the tinging in my hands is more like stinging. It ebbs and flows in intensity, but it's never gone.

My biggest fear at the moment is the potential for continuing spread of my neuropathy. I really don't have health anxiety. I'm not consciously afraid of catching the coronavirus. I know I'm doing all that I can. I am concerned about a continued stretch of isolation, although my wife and I get along great. Now and again, my mind wanders into: Am I going to be able to handle this for two, three months? Will I end up a basket case in a rubber room? Ultimately, I know that's not what happens with anxiety disorder, that the spikes always recede.

I recommend to all folks who have anxiety disorder a book and app called "The Dare Response," started and written by an Irishman named Barry McDonagh. https://dareresponse.com

Also, for pain, an app called Curable that takes a mind-body approach is effective. https://www.curablehealth.com

And finally, as very good program by a psychologist in California named Alan Gordon. He has a free 21-day program that takes a different approach to managing or eliminating pain. https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/

While the program has not improved my PN symptoms, it has helped me cope and given me new insights.

I've just written a memoir. I'll stop now. Thanks for responding. I just did 90 minutes in a dentist chair w/o anxiety to speak of. We're supposed to acknowledge our victories, however small they may seem to others. So, yipeee. OK, I'm really going to stop now 🙂 — Eric

@lisalucier I forgot to put your @handle in my voluminous response to your post.

Sending you a huge hug, God Bless you it cannot be easy, Celia

I suffer from anxiety and take medication daily to help me get thru it, and especially at night. I try to find other things to do during times like this. For this reason, I try really hard to do something I like to do, or do things with other people. Since that isn't possible now, I trying really hard to exercise and keep that routine up. My trainer is making videos every MWF for us to use, and sent out our individual workout sheets for us to work off of. She also really stresses that exercise is very important during this time. Is it hard - you bet it is! But I believe that it can be very helpful.