Pandemic High Stress, Anxiety and Depression

As someone scoring at the highest level on my Sensitivity Scale, I have to prioritize my wellness to function at the level that allows me to be in balance, take care of my family and support my HSP community in my work. Self-care is my medicine, although living in a global pandemic is testing the limits of everyone right now, especially HSPs.

Pandemic anxiety and depression are growing and highly sensitive people might be feeling especially challenged right now, especially if you have experienced anxiety and depression in the past. As someone who has experienced a lot of both in my past I’ve found that I need to do things differently to support myself during a time of global trauma. Fortunately, there is a lot of things we can do to support our well-being. First, let’s talk about what is challenging.

The HSP Podcast Episode: What’s Hard and What’s Helping During This Pandemic

I share what’s been hard for me and what I’m hearing is hard for HSPs. I also share tips from HSP therapists on what they are doing that’s helping.

I share what I find hard and what I'm hearing is hard for HSPs. I also share the results of a poll I did on what self-care HSP therapists are doing that helps. Visit HSPpodcast.com to leave comments about what is hard and what's helping.

Responses from a Poll: What are you finding hard right now during this pandemic and what’s helping? 

-Hard. Fear of the virus. Trying not to spread that fear to my kids. Not knowing what to do with my 3 littles as far as sending them back to school or do our own homeschooling. Do I have what it takes to school at home? Am I being irrational to keep them home to be safe? Can I make my kids wear a mask for 9 hrs a day, without feeling guilty? If I do keep them home, how to deal with people that will feel negative about my decision? 😞 Helping-gardening, cooking, food prep for winter, being outside, 3 kids keep me pretty busy to not dwell. Actually enjoying a slowed down lifestyle. 

-Hard: the lack of science-based decision making and loss of justice for children and those of color during this pandemic. 

-Anxiety over catching COVID and thinking everyone is moving on and I'm still stuck. Listened to your podcast 78 giving the tools and it helped. 

-I wanted to stay active and not slow down exercising but had an injury! It has been difficult with some physical problems and reduced income. I feel with the pandemic, I had a lot of time to reframe parenting, goals and life plans.

-My mother is on Hospice in a large nursing home in another state. Not only are family and friends not allowed to visit the past 4 months, now that the cases of Covid 19 are up, but the facility also will not allow her assigned hospice nurse to be with her. It’s particularly awful as someone is terminal and dying.

-Hard: - being in fear of getting the virus and not knowing how it will affect my life - the distance from the parents and friends - sanitizing all groceries after the shopping - keeping my son in complete friend isolation - thoughts about sick people and people who passed away during corona. Hearing horror corona stories from friends and news - getting used to absolutely new life settings. - not being able to see my older kids because they are essential workers - not working, going out, do usual things. What helps: - talking with friends and relatives on video chats - new hobbies and running usual house errands. - going with my husband for walks - meditation - art and crafts.

-Hard = isolation and increased anxiety of getting Covid Helping = online connection 

-Hard: Not being able to go to the fun places I used to and not knowing when we will be able to. My husband being out of work and all of the anxiety about the future that involves. Not having health insurance yet. Masks. Too hot to go hiking.

-Feeling isolated but never really alone (I have a partner and 2 children at home with me). Asking my partner to take the kids out, closing my door and locking it, walks, and baths help. 

-Hard: loss of freedom due to social distancing measures - obviously necessary, my previous career was socially isolating and I am losing the belief that I will ever find love/romance. Helping: reading novels, going for walks, playing the piano and following guided meditations from youtube 

-Not seeing my friends who live hours away and not being able to go camping. The only things that are really helping are my cats or using my camper or gaming. 

-Wearing a mask 12 + hours at work. 

-Loss of motivation. I work from home now and will permanently. The routine I had before (getting up, showering, getting kids ready, 4 mile walk/run) have all changed. I beat myself up for knowing I’d feel better if I just modified my routine but then I lack the discipline, don’t do what I know I can and should do, and the cycle of self-loathing continues 😞 

-The plan to re-open schools even though the numbers keep growing and growing. Don’t even know how to deal with the anger and fear but I’m feeling about it.

Did you relate? What has been hard and and what’s helping you? I love to hear from you in the comments!

P.S. Want more free tips to reduce challenges and increase your resiliency as a sensitive person? I’ll send support every week. Sign up for the Sensitive Empowerment newsletter here.

P.P.S. If you are struggling with high stress or anxiety and want to improve quickly, I recommend my course, Brain Training for the Highly Sensitive Person, Techniques to Reduce Anxiety, and Overwhelming Emotions. This is an 8-week program you do one week at a time and HSPs reportedly feel a lot better within the first 1-2 weeks. 

My newest course, Blooming Brilliantly, Understanding and Loving Who You Are as a Sensitive Person teaches how to love who you are and live authentically, protect your energy, set healthy boundaries, and learn holistic alternatives that support and calm an overwhelmed nervous system, and more!

I recommend taking both courses if you haven't taken either yet and you can save when you buy both courses.  You also get free access to my Sensitive Empowerment community when you take a course and I'm there offering support and connection every day!  Hope to see you there! I do live events every week too. Lots of support available for you. ❤️

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