Coronavirus is dominating headlines around the world. While the media focus is on the impact on people鈥檚 physical health and what鈥檚 being done to prevent the spread of the disease; anxiety about the virus can also have an impact on people鈥檚 mental health and wellbeing.

The virus causes flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing and the government says the current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild.

But with blanket news coverage 鈥� including of deaths in other countries, whole towns being locked down abroad, and stories of people being kept in quarantine or having to self-isolate for weeks, there is understandably a lot of anxiety about the virus.

鈥淭he main thing is it鈥檚 an unknown threat,鈥� says our member Elizabeth Turp.

鈥淭he way that it鈥檚 being portrayed is connecting with the fear centre in our brain; our underlying fears. Nobody wants to feel more under threat of death.

鈥淭his is very real. It鈥檚 something that will come up in therapy,鈥� she adds.

Our member Catherine Gallacher adds: 鈥淭he media, the television news brings this right into our living rooms, so this feels very close to home, even if it鈥檚 not.鈥�

The about what to do if you feel unwell, have been to any affected areas and has guidance on how to prevent the spread of disease.

Here are some of our members鈥� suggestions who can help if you are feeling anxious about the spread of the virus.

Think about access to media and social media

鈥淪ome people can be quite paralysed by this anxiety and may want to completely stop interacting with the news,鈥� says Elizabeth, a counsellor in Liverpool.

鈥淏ut for others this can be quite difficult. They want to know what鈥檚 going on. Not knowing makes it worse.鈥�

She says think about limiting how much time you spend on social media or reading, listening or watching the news.

You may want to think about where you are getting your information from. Are the reports sensationalising the situation and scaremongering? Or do you feel they are reporting responsibly and with balance?

Don鈥檛 ignore your anxiety

鈥淚t鈥檚 very normal to feel scared about something like this,鈥� adds Elizabeth. 鈥淎cknowledge that you feel this way. Don鈥檛 ignore these feelings.鈥�

Exploring why you feel this way can help.

A counsellor can help you do this.

Do something you can control

It can help to express this anxiety in a way that you can control. That could be writing down what you feel, or keeping a journal, adds Elizabeth. 听

Let it go

Once you鈥檝e written it down, let it go, she adds.

听鈥淎llow yourself to worry, put it down in writing in a notebook, and then put that away. Let it go,鈥� continues Elizabeth.

Bring it back to the present

鈥淲ith anxiety, it鈥檚 often like you鈥檙e 10 steps ahead, so bring things back to the present,鈥� says Elizabeth.

Think about your thought process

Catherine echoes this.

鈥�Be really aware of what you鈥檙e thinking. Sometimes we are catastrophising, we're focusing on all these 鈥榳hat ifs?鈥� Bring things back to what you actually know.鈥�

鈥淩eassure yourself, calm yourself. We call it self-soothing,鈥� she adds.

Wellbeing check

Make sure you are looking after yourself, doing what you can to help get a good night鈥檚 sleep, eating well and doing exercise, adds Catherine, who is based in Glasgow.

鈥淚 always talk to my clients about a wellbeing check. Sleeping, eating, exercising. If we manage our health like this, it can help make us more robust against anxiety.鈥�

Self-management

Elizabeth, who often works with people who have long-term health conditions, says it鈥檚 important to make sure you are doing the usual self-management of your condition.

Anxiety and the release of stress hormones can exacerbate physical symptoms, she adds.

鈥淎nxiety links our brain and body. Make sure you are doing what you can to look after your physical health.鈥�

Breathing techniques and mindfulness

And Catherine recommends practising mindfulness or using breathing techniques to help you relax.

鈥淭hese can be helpful in managing anxiety. They are good tools for dealing with nervous feelings.鈥�

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Read the regarding coronavirus.

The NHS also has what you can do to prevent its spread and what to do if you worried that you might have symptoms.听

To find a counsellor or psychotherapist who can help you with anxiety visit our Therapist Directory.