It’s on T.V., it’s in the paper, everyone is the schoolyard is talking about it and it is most certainly overwhelming. What am I talking about? H1N1. I don’t know about you but if you suffer from anxiety than you’ve probably been overrun and overwhelmed by all the news about this new flu. Well, I have started avoiding watching the news and will skip past all the articles about the virus. Don’t get me wrong I am perfectly aware of what the virus is doing it’s just that every 5 minutes I don’t need to be reminded that my children might die or I might die if I contract H1N1. So in my google alerts this morning I found an article that was a bit of a light in a very dark scenario and it made me breath a little easier. Take a look at some really good advice for those of us who suffer from anxiety and even those who don’t.
Throughout the course of history, people have coped with a variety of illnesses and diseases that have been severe and widespread. Along with the physical impact of such illnesses, each widespread disease or epidemic has brought various levels of social anxiety, stress, and in extreme cases near panic. While our society today is nowhere near this level of public anxiety, it is important to keep a balanced psychological approach to this issue.
High levels of public attention and media coverage are necessary to help prevent the spread of influenza. However, these frequent messages can inadvertently raise our anxiety and lead to high levels of stress or feeling somewhat helpless. The following tips will help you deal more effectively with the psychological stress associated with flu season.
