Coronavirus is causing new types of stress and anxiety, but clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Ho shares 3 simple methods for practicing self-care that you can do from your home and may help to ease your tensions and lift your spirits.
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Chill out with Ice
She suggests placing an ice cube under your eye for 30 seconds to a minute. This helps to engage your parasympathetic system (which conserves energy as it slows the heart rate) and calms the body. She also suggests pairing this technique with some deep breathing.
Ground Yourself
Feeling anxious or is your mind racing? Dr. Judy says to try and ground yourself in the moment and one method is to visualize yourself walking down a flight of stairs. She explains if you take note of each step and think about holding the rail as you walk, that this image can help to calm your body and remain in the present. She also says sitting down and planting your feet on the ground and feeling how they feel on the carpet or floor can help calm you in around a minute or 2.
Snuggle Up!
Who doesn't feel better under a blanket? The clinical psychologist suggests grabbing a cuddly blanket and wrapping up in it will help to engage our sense of touch. which can help calm you down.
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*Stay informed on the latest information on the coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and learn about prevention methods and what to do if you are infected.
