Is it natural to feel anxiety when we face a crisis, the unknown, or sudden change? How do pandemics, in general, wreak havoc on our mental health? What coping strategies should we be adopting to manage stress and anxiety at this time?

Anyone here who can share their thoughts?

This is a tough one. For me, I found a moving meditation last year called Qi Gong. It has helped me get through this year. It is no cure, but for someone with autism, like myself, it seems well made for me. I could never do meditation. While it worked, I always found it boring. The movement in qi gong, helps to keep your mind occupied while meditating. The slow movements help to calm you as well.

Breathing exercises like Box breathing can help. That is what I was doing before Qi Gong.

There are other stress relieving techniques that can be found with a quick online search.

I hope you had a nice holiday. Good luck.

I'll check on that breathing exercises, thanks for sharing.

A friend also forwarded an article to me about anxiety reduction strategies, maybe this could help too.

How long should I do Box breathing?

Just long enough to stop the current anxiety attack.

If you do it without an attack, until the video is done, I guess.

I only used it when I had an anxiety attack. It always stops them in their tracks. With the Qi Gong I learned to breathe correctly and no longer have anxiety attacks. I also breathe better than I have in ages.

we are all going through something we have no previous experience with, so you are not alone in how you are feeling.

How do you cope with stress?

whenever you feel stress, yoga could help keep you calm.

I agree with you, started yoga a few months ago and it helped me relax.