Anxiety on the Rise Amid COVID-19
As the uncertainty grows surrounding COVID-19, naturally, so too does our anxiety.
According to the DSM-V, anxiety is an intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations (1). Based on the state of the world, I would argue that it would be abnormal not to experience some facet of anxiousness. Anxiety is not innately bad. However, once it begins to negatively impact one’s daily functioning, it can be viewed as a problem.
For example, a 16-year old, high school sophomore is engaging in online learning, due to the pandemic. For the vast majority of the day they are obsessively worrying about themselves or loved ones becoming ill. This worry creates significant challenges in their life, to the point where they cannot focus on school work, or engage in meaningful activities; thus, creating negative consequences.
Now take that same high schooler. Although they still worry about themselves or loved ones getting sick, they are still able to fulfill their daily obligations. In addition, because they have a healthy fear, they are more likely to follow the rules of engagement (social distancing, not touching face, hand washing, etc.), which decreases the likelihood of infection. As you notice, the former disables, whereas the latter empowers and provides adequate protection.
When an individual is experiencing symptoms of anxiety, it can be all consuming. The feelings of uneasiness can turn to despair and despair leads to hopelessness.
So, how does one overcome anxiety and develop feelings of optimism and hope?
Depending on who you ask, there are numerous answers to this question. However, research indicates that perhaps the most effective approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), with over 60 percent of participants demonstrating substantial improvement with anxiety symptoms (2).
CBT is a short-term intervention, typically 12-20 sessions, which empowers individuals by training them to be their own “therapist,” which allows them to take responsibility for their difficulties and effect change in their own lives. To do this, CBT operates on the assumption that a person’s negative, self-defeating thoughts (whether conscious or unconscious) create a false reality, in which the person feels stuck or unmotivated. By identifying the falsity of the thoughts (cognitive distortion), one can begin the process of replacing them with more productive and reality based thinking, which ultimately leads to more constructive actions.
As the Director of Social-Emotional Services at Frankenberger Associates, I am well versed in CBT and other evidenced-based therapies, that can assist you and your loved ones in overcoming issues surrounding anxiety and other mental health conditions.
For additional information regarding social-emotional/therapeutic services, please email at Ben@frankenbergerassociates.com or call, (203) 481-8476.
1. American Psychiatric Publishing. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: Dsm-5. Washington (D.C.).
2. Effective Treatments for Anxiety. (2020). Retrieved from https://clinic.unc.edu/anxiety-clinic/for-consumers/effective-treatments-for-anxiety/