How to handle anxiety during Corona

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My mom draped a banner that read “Happy Spring” under the mantle hanging in the kitchen and then turned to place a nice bouquet of tulips on the center of the table.  It was as if she were attempting to keep things normal in our new world of uncertainties, like she wanted to bring some happy to our little house in the midst of our chaos.

I read through two books and started a third this past weekend.  That’s more books than I read in half a year.  It was as if I were attempting to keep things normal in our new world of uncertainties, like I wanted something to read other than the headlines appearing across the screen of my phone every minute.  It’s the tweets, Instagram captions, Facebook posts, emails and texts that are all-consuming our minds with information of changes caused by the outbreak.

My sister and I went for a drive.  It was the middle of the day; and though it isn’t summer, it felt like it was.  Afterwards we threw on our bathing suits, turned the sprinkler on and plopped some beach chairs in our front yard. We listened to the sound of the sprinkler clicking as it spun around in different directions, the wind blowing through every once in a while to splash some of the water on our sun-soaked skin.  The periodic splashes in the breeze made up for our lack of a pool.  It was as if we were attempting to keep things normal in our new world of uncertainties, like we wanted something to keep us occupied other than biting our nails as we mulled over what’s going on in the world around us.

This world we’re living in is anything but normal, but that day we pretended it to be.

As I buried myself in distractions, attempting to make any piece of what is going on today normal, I did everything I could to keep my mind going back to the one thing it keeps wanting to go to.  The one thing I’ve overcome, the one thing I haven’t struggled with recently, the one thing I’m proud to announce I’m free from for about four months now: anxiety.

Anxiety appears in the quiet places of our life and makes its way into the loudest places of our minds.  It’s something that feels out of control and often comes when things are out of control.  I’m sure we’ve all experienced some degree of it, though some more or less than others. 

I’m going to say what’s on my mind now because, well, that’s what I do here.  It’s why I write what I write and post the things I post. 

I know I’m not the only one struggling with the surge of panic and sudden changes to our way of living.  I know I’m not the only one who has experienced a panic attack or a throbbing headache or the sudden wave of nausea at the mention of all of the updates and news that leaves our head spinning.  I know I’m not the only one who has struggled with anxiety since the beginning of all this mess.

Routines have been disrupted, there is no more “normal,” there are more questions than answers, more problems than solutions and more confusion than clarity.  We had hopes, plans, dreams and goals for how we wanted to spend the next few months.  All of which have been cancelled, postponed and put on hold.  Worse, the answers to what could come of those events are uncertain, leaving us in the awkward position of not knowing.

To the one who’s struggling with change and fear of the future- I feel what you’re going through.  You’re not in this alone, and you’re not the only one feeling this way.  Everyone is in this together. 

As I’ve reflected on a few things the past two weeks, I’ve been reminded that for every season there is a reason, and for every reason there is a purpose.

In the disappointment there is a reason.  Through the disappointment of cancelled events and postponed schedules it can feel frustrating and annoying, begging us to leave bitter and unsatisfied.  Our plans didn’t prevail nor did they make the cut for the agenda of 2020.   We have every right to be disappointed about it.  When things started to seem like they were falling into place, they are now falling apart; and we feel like we don’t know what to hold onto or what grounds to stand on. 

Hold fast.  Look to Jesus.  Even though we didn’t plan for this virus to disrupt our lives and ruin our plans, it didn’t surprise God.  He knew exactly when and how it would happen.  So, if our disappointments and cancelled plans didn’t surprise God, we must trust that He has another plan for us- one that’s better than the plan we thought we had put together.  There is more ahead to look forward to.  We just need to take advantage of the extra time we’ve been given to seek Him with open hearts, surrendered plans and follow Him. 

He will turn this all for good… it’s what He always does.  We just might not see it because we’re in the middle of the situation now.  We’re going to look back one day and see where His hand was protecting us and guiding us all along.  In the disappointment there is reason.

In the silence there is rest.  We can throw the excuse “I didn’t have time for it,” out the window now.  We have more time than ever- use it.  Use it to dig deeper into your quiet time or spend more time praying for those around you.  Our routines might have been disrupted, but maybe that was for a reason!  Maybe that reason is because we needed to rearrange our priorities and get back to the roots of the things that really matter.

As I’ve found myself coming from a busy season of life to one where I can virtually attend a lecture from the pool (or sprinkler in my case LOL), I’ve seen quite the contrast in the way I fill my time.  Instead of running from point A to what feels like the end of the dang alphabet by the time the week is over, I’ve been able to spend more quality time with family, focus more on getting my assignments done ahead of time and enjoying outside.   Instead of being bored while we’re social distancing, reflect on the gift it can be.  Take advantage of the forced pause.  

In the disruption of normal there are new things to be discovered.  Though it can appear as a disruption, let it be an invitation.  An invitation to try something new and adventure outside your comfort zone (but not outside your quarantine haha).  Where we were once grounded in a pattern of daily habits and weekly tasks, we can break habits to form newer and more exciting ones!  Adventure outside the same way you’ve been doing things and change it up.  We can find other ways to spend our free time such as new workout routines, learning a new skill, spending quality time with people in our family and picking up the hobbies we no longer had time for.  Even though this disruption didn’t present itself like an adventure, make it one.

In the middle of all this chaos are the loud screams for us to quit living lives that are constantly on the go and appreciate the simpler things in life. Also, in the middle of this chaos are screams that we drown out with distractions called life that we often ignore and fail to hear what God is telling us. 

Maybe all of the disappointments, uncertainties, silences and disruptions are more opportunities.  Opportunities for us to hear the voice of our Maker and Creator, the One who is in control of all things.

Even in the uncertainty marked by our cries of questions there are still answers being written.  Answers of hope, promise, peace and joy.  In a world that feels the complete opposite of those things, we see more evidence on top of the over-flowing evidence of His faithfulness in past situations, that Jesus is the answer.  We have to continually pursue Him as He pursues us.  Seek His presence.  Seek His peace.

When our fears give way to anxiety, and the ground seems shaky, cling to the one Truth who is never failing: Jesus. This world we’re living in is anything but normal- let’s not pretend it is.  I have a feeling that things aren’t normal for a good reason.  Let’s continue to listen in the moments God is speaking to us.  He wants us to listen.  So, listen.  Even though it’s not normal.

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

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