b"For many of us anxiety is a way of life; a constant that we manage and battle. Anxiety is the most common mental illness in Canada, with 12% of the population being regularly impacted by mild to severe anxiety 1 . Many of us seek treatment for anxiety on a regular basis. During times of increased community stress, our anxiety can become highly exacerbated. For Canadians that struggle regularly with anxiety's debilitating effects, functioning during this unprecedented pandemic may be very difficult. COVID-19 has suddenly changed how we live. Additional precautions have been put in place that mean many of us are working from home, avoiding entertainment, sports events, or any large gatherings of people. School closures and widespread social disruption can leave everyone confused about what to do next. With our children at home and our seniors needing protection from exposure, it is a time when we may be most stressed. How do we cope with isolation and uncertainty without panicking or becoming immobilized? When we are already an anxious person, how do we do to manage during this intense time? Anxiety and Acceptance With anxiety symptoms, the first thing to do is to recognize them for what they are. Anxiety is always worse when we try to repress it and deny it. Accept and understand that as an anxious person, this is going to be a hard time for you. Identify your anxiety symptoms and be ready for them. Ignoring growing feelings of stress or panic is the way to increase them. Rely on tried and true deep breathing techniques and remind yourself this will pass. There are a few things you can do to prepare during this time. First, it may help to make a plan that can keep you steady; second, keeping to your daily routines as much as possible will help you avoid panicking. Anxiety in the Experience the Benefits of People Time of CoronavirusHELP, I WAS ANXIOUS BEFORE COVID-19F of us, anxiety is a way of lifeaor any large gatherings of people. Widespreadan anxious person, this is going to be a hard For many constant that we manage and battle. Anxietysocial disruption can leave everyone confusedtime for you. Identify your anxiety symptoms is the most common mental illness in Canada,about what to do next. With our childrenand be ready for them. Ignoring growing feel-with12percentofthepopulationbeingat home and our seniors needing protectionings of stress or panic is the way to increase regularly impacted by mild to severe anxiety.from exposure, it is a time when we may bethem. Rely on tried-and-true deep breathing Many of us seek treatment for anxiety on amost stressed. How do we cope with isola- techniques and remind yourself this will pass. regular basis. During times of increased com- tion and uncertainty without panicking orThere are a few things you can do to prepare munity stress, our anxiety can become highlybecoming immobilized? When we are alreadyduring this time. First, it may help to make a exacerbated.ForCanadiansthatstruggleanxious, what do we do to manage duringplan that can keep you steady; second, keep-regularly with anxiety's debilitating effects,this intense time?ing to your daily routines as much as possible functioning during this unprecedented pan- will help you avoid panicking. demic may be very difficult.Anxiety and Acceptance COVID-19 has suddenly changed how weWith anxiety symptoms, the first thing to doMake a Plan live. Additional precautions have been put inis to recognize them for what they are. Anx- It is advisable to have a plan in place should place that mean many of us are working fromiety is always worse when we try to repress ityouneedhelp.Thiscanreducethereal home, avoiding entertainment, sports eventsand deny it. Accept and understand that, asanxiety you feel when thinking about what www.ecao.org10"