Even if you have tried to ignore the stories about Ebola over the past few months, the news has been impossible to avoid. And now that the disease has hit close to home, many of us are left with worries and fears concerning our own health. While we know that sitting in our living rooms worrying about it won't do any good, it can be hard to know what else to do. So, I have gathered a couple great resources on managing worries around Ebola.
My favorite tip is to take a break from news coverage. When we are bombarded with media coverage about any event – including this one – it can cause significant anxiety. And lots of anxiety over a long period of time is no good for our health, or the health of our families and communities.
It's important to always stay alert, to be informed and take precautions if you think you may be at risk for coming into contact with any virus. But to help maintain emotional well-being, it's critical to ease Ebola fears by reviewing the facts, maintaining perspective, and upholding hope.
Keep things in perspective. Limit worry and agitation by lessening the time you and your family spend watching or listening to upsetting media coverage. Although you'll want to keep informed — especially if you have loved ones in affected countries — remember to take a break from watching the news and focus on the things that are positive in your life and things you have control over.
Posted in: Current Events, natural disasters, Stress Management, Uncategorized | Tagged: APA help center, dr stephanie smith, ebola fears, erie counselor, erie psychologist, erie therapist, psychology and ebola, stephanie smith psychologist, stop worrying about ebola, worry and ebola, Your Mind. Your Body.