Relieving Coronavirus Anxiety | Sandy Fowler | Episode 120

Families everywhere are dealing with lack of routine, lost connection, living and working in close quarters, and even grief as COVID-19 runs its course. Our kids are living with a lot of disappointment and fear, and they may feel adrift. All of this is creating anxiety. Mighty Parenting podcast host and stress relief coach Sandy Fowler addresses Coronavirus anxiety. She shares insights on using this time to share your values with your children as well as tips for families on how they can reduce Coronavirus anxiety.

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A Favorite Quote from the Show: 

“A powerful way to battle anxiety is to focus on helping others.”

High Points From Our Conversation About Relieving Coronavirus Anxiety:

You’ve lost many of the normal outlets for releasing stress and feeling good. Social connection is a huge part of mental wellness and that has changed dramatically in just weeks.

Be careful with your attention. It’s tempting to follow the situation closely, leave news on constantly and frequently check online. That’s a normal response but it creates Coronavirus anxiety for you and your child.

Decide when and how you’re going to take in the information you. Let it go when you’re outside of those times.

Be careful in your actions. Stay home. Stay safe. Wash your hands. This is what the experts tell us will help. It also gives us concrete actions to take which can help us feel a bit more in control. Feeling in control helps reduce anxiety.

There are simple things we can do that relax our bodies, telling them we are safe. This allows our bodies to leave fight, flight and freeze to move back to rest and digest mode. 

• • Box breathing: Inhale to the count of 4, hold for the count of 4, exhale for 4, and hold the emptiness for 4
  • 5-4-3-2-1: Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, two things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste
  • Easy guided mediation: guided meditations where you simply lie down and listen, following my voice as I lead you on a journey that tells your body is can rest

The third powerful way to battle Coronavirus anxiety is to focus on helping others. Making a positive difference in someone else’s life has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety.

One pint of blood saves 3 lives. They separate red blood cells, plasma, and platelets and deliver only what’s needed.

Blood has a shelf life so we need a constant supply to help people.

In light of what’s happening in our world right now with Covid-19, there are a few problems and misconceptions:

• • First, Versity receives about 20% of their donations from high school and college blood drives. Schools are shut down so they’ve lost that source. And that doesn’t account for offices, churches and community organizations that host blood drives. 
  • Second, people think blood centers are closed. They’re not. They are essential services so they will not close down. 
  • Third, people worry about getting sick from donating. Medical professionals, 3rd party organizations and blood donation centers assure us that donating blood is safe. The centers always have to follow guidelines established for medical procedures and they’ve implemented additional cautionary practices right down to giving every donor a fresh pen to sign in with. 
  • Fourth is that the need for blood donation has not stopped. People tend to think of blood being needed in a catastrophic situation, which it is, but it’s needed every day for people involved in car or other accidents, people going through cancer treatments, premature babies, mothers with complications during childbirth, and people with chronic illnesses. We aren’t thinking about it because our attention has been hijacked by a virus, but these people need us. 

Your teenager can feel better when they help someone else. You may also have a conversation about showing up for other people, about coming together in a crisis to help each other. Talk about your values and discuss how donating blood can support those values.

if you live in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois or Ohio, click here to go to Versiti’s website and set up your appointment. If you live outside those areas you can do an internet search for your local blood bank and make an appointment there.

Resources Mentioned in Show:

Mighty Parenting episode 116 – Strategies for Dealing with Social Distancing With Teenagers https://mightyparenting.com/strategies-for-dealing-with-social-distancing-with-teenagers-sandy-fowler-episode-116/

Sandy shares techniques for relieving anxiety sandyfowler.com/coronavirus

Our Host Sandy Fowler:

Sandy Fowler is a stress-relief coach, emotional-wellness speaker, and podcast host who is passionate about helping people make powerful choices that impact their lives and reduce stress. Whether she is speaking to a group, hosting a podcast, coaching a client, or leading a guided meditation, she is always helping busy women and parents find simple ways to de-stress and make life better. Her natural curiosity paired with her down-to-earth, practical approach to living, working, and prospering allows her to help them reduce stress, create emotional wellness, and take their lives back from the busyness of modern-day living.

To learn more or connect with Sandy visit sandyfowler.com 

Our Sponsor: Versiti—Stronger Together!

People need people and Versiti Blood Centers bring people together through the lifesaving gift of blood donation. Every two seconds, someone needs blood: trauma victims, surgery patients, premature babies, people with anemia, cancer patients, and many more. Your blood donation can save up to 3 lives right in your community. Donating is simple and safe. Click here now to visit versiti.org and make an appointment.