Right now, it’s a difficult time for all of us. There are so many unanswered questions. How many people will be affected? How will my life change? When will things go back to normal? When can I see my loved ones?

Of course, I’m talking about the Coronavirus pandemic that we are all living through

I want to give you a few tips to help you deal with this emotionally. I received several messages from friends and clients who are turning to food to soothe their anxious feelings. The problem with doing this is that after they eat, they feel bad about themselves.

There are other ways to deal with your difficult emotions during these uncertain times.

What Are You Feeling?

The first step to managing your feelings without turning to food is to PAUSE and identify what you are feeling. Are you anxious, nervous, scared, depressed, lonely etc.? It’s important to put your finger on the exact emotion so you can figure out how to meet your needs.

What Do You Need?

Once you’ve named the feeling (write it down, say it out loud…), now ask yourself what you need to manage that feeling. Perhaps it’s connecting with a friend or loved one. Or, maybe it’s a little fresh air to clear your mind. If you’ve been stuck in the house, then stepping out onto the front porch to breathe in the air and allow the sunshine to hit your face may make a world of a difference for you.

4 Coping Strategies 

Here are some things you can do to take action and cope with your emotions:

Deep Breathing

For me, this is number one. Whenever I feel some anxiety coming on, I stop what I am doing, close my eyes and breath in for a count of 4 and breath out for a count of 4. Try it!

Meditate

Even if you’ve never meditated before, give it a shot. Download one of many apps to your phone, such as Calm or Headspace, and put on one of the short meditations. It’ll help you calm down in the moment.

 Journal

Take out a pen and paper (if you don’t have a pretty journal) and allow yourself to write, freeform. No editing – just let your thoughts and feelings float onto the paper. It’s so important to get out of your head and by writing, you are releasing these difficult emotions.

 Call a Friend

With the new regulations of self-quarantine, curfews and being told to “stay home”, it can get very lonely. If you are feeling alone, pick up the phone and call a friend or loved one. There’s nothing like hearing the voice of someone you care about to help you get through this period. It’s not the same as texting, I promise!! Better yet, Facetime with each other so you can see one another and give each other a virtual hug.

Hang in there friend, and STAY HOME.