Reframing Our Mindset: How To Handle Your Anxiety During A Pandemic

It’s such a strange time in the world right now and I am wondering how everyone is handling it at this stage. My family is now on day 27 and it’s been a real rollercoaster of emotions! 

I’ve had to really dig deep into my toolkit to reframe what’s going on on some days, and I’ve been managing the emotions of my little people as well and that’s been hard because they don’t really understand what is happening, just that their lives changes dramatically with no warning one day. 

I have absolutely reached saturation level when it comes to COVID information. In the beginning we didn’t really have much info and I devoured it ALL as I learned everything I could to create information for my patients in clinic and also for the physicians and nutritionists that I mentor. And that was brilliant. But very rapidly, every single person in health started posting information and opinions, all the science outlets are on 24 hour information release, the news/media doesn’t really talk about anything else and everybody and their cat has an opinion as well. 

So for my own sanity I had to dramatically prune and select the information I was taking in. 

I strictly limit myself to reading the news only once per day, in the morning. And to be honest I only do this so that I can address and discuss the fears of my patients that come from things they have read or heard. 

This single action has made a huge difference to my feelings of anxiety and overwhelm and I highly recommend it if you haven’t already. Just remove the apps from your phone and be strict with TV, internet etc. You’ll feel much better. 

I get my information from neutral informative sites such as those listed below in this brilliant infographic from Deanna Minich. 

And then I focus the rest of each day from the inspirational sources she has also listed. 

Miracle Mindset. 

JJ Virgin is a fitness influencer in the USA who went through a huge trauma a couple of years ago when her son suffered a life changing injury that she was told he wouldn’t survive. 

She wrote a book about her experience called Miracle Mindset. 

The basic message from the book is this: Many people, for example when going through a horrendous divorce or loss of a job, feel, at the time, that it’s the worst things that could have happened to them, but in hindsight, it turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to them. Well, what happens if we reframe that experience while we are going through it and become determined that this hardship will be the best thing?

This of course is easy to say, but I keep coming back to it right now and it’s been the framework for the information I am choosing to take in right now. 

How do I want this experience to be for me and my family?
How do I want to feel right now? 
What do I want my life to be when this is over? 
What am I learning from this and what are the positives about this? 
What can I do to help others right now? 

Who do I want to be during COVID-19?

I found this infographic very very helpful as well, but remember when you are looking at it that we are all moving between the three stages all the time and that’s normal. But even just reading the learning and growth circles helps me to move there and stay there. 

Immune system MOT. 

During this time, my team and I have decided to offer something different. I have put together 2 offerings:

1. A 2 appointment immune system MOT that will cover food and nutrition, dietary supplements and lifestyle interventions. We know that all of these factors make a huge difference to the way the body handles any kind of stressor including infection and we’d love to help you create resilience and improve your underlying health and vitality right now. 

2. An immune system ‘check in’. A single appointment to go over the basics and answer any questions you might have about whats happening right now. 

I am also offering the immune check-in for free for anyone working in the NHS right now. Please feel free to pass that around to anyone who may benefit from it if you have family and friends working in our hospitals and in the frontline. 

Values:  

“Just remember folks, The world you want after this is all over is the world you are supporting now. If you order everything from Amazon, that’s what will take over. Support your local businesses and you help them be part of the after.”

-Frances Bula

In the beginning of this crisis, I ordered quite a few things from Amazon and was very grateful that they were available as I couldn’t get a lot in stores at that time. But I also decided to make this a time of really living by my values as much as possible (while also not letting perfection be an added layer of stress right now). 

I have made an effort to support my local business as much as possible and I reach out to the local Facebook and business groups for advice and sources before ordering anything on Amazon. Its such a huge pleasure to shop this way and know I am making a difference to a real person, not just Jeff Bezos and his billions. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am still ordering from Amazon too, just not FIRST anymore and much much less than I ever have before. 

Plastic. 

I have been radically reducing and eliminating plastic from our lives for a little while. One of the best things I have done to support this has been taking the class called 6 Weeks to Plastic Free. 

I had a small plastic regression at the beginning of the lockdown but I notice that Jacqui who runs the program has managed to keep her lockdown plastic free! AND she is making the program FREE for anyone who also wants to do a plastic free lockdown. So this might be the time to make that change for you. 

I’m not an affiliate, but if you do the program please tell her I sent you because I really believe in her mission and want her to know I am supporting her. 

I can’t see the free program on her website yet but she’s responsive so email her and she will let you know the dates. 

EASTER. 

So – it’s ALSO Easter. Which completely snuck up on me. 

Our family’s Easter program this year is going to be very very simple as I’m sure it is for most. 

We do an egg hunt in the back garden with coins inside reusable plastic eggs. 

We make our own chocolate eggs from the recipe I have posted below using a silicone egg mould and I make the BEST hot cross buns ever. The whole family loves them.

I make a triple batch and we eat them for breakfast for a couple of days. They last for several days in the fridge and can be eaten room temp but also reheat beautifully in the oven. 

I use my nut and seed loaf as a guide – see recipe below. But with the following ingredients: 

• 1 cup of buckwheat flour
• 1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds (can leave them whole for texture)
• 1/2 cup ground flax
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1 cup chopped mixed dried fruit
• 2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• cardamom and clove to taste
• 1/4 cup of maple syrup
• zest of one orange 
• Juice of one orange plus water to equal 1.5 cups of liquid
• 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil
• 3 Tbsp psyllium husk 

I let the mix sit for 30 minutes, then shape in to buns with my hands and let them sit the remainder of the time until cooking. Cook them until they are a beautiful golden brown – maybe about 30 – 40 minutes depending on how big you make them. I have made the crosses with icing in the past, you can use cashew cream or leave them off. 

Here are two other delicious recipes for the season: Nut & Seed Loaf and Decadent, Fruit and Chocolate Slab.

We might also plant some flowers this year in the garden as there are several local farmers and small nurseries who are delivering safely and I want to support them, plus the weather is gorgeous right now. 

I wish you all the happiest, peaceful Easter and great health for you and your loved ones. 

Wishing you the very best of health. 
-Robyn