Managing Anxiety in Relationships During Coronavirus Crisis

It must have been challenging to stay in the house with your spouse/partner amidst this coronavirus crisis. Your family could be feeling the pressure and the stressful environment in the household and existing outside.

Being confined indoors can feel a little claustrophobic and constrained. And you might find it all the harder for managing anxiety in a relationship.

Working from home or barely working can lead to increased anxiety.

What do you do when there are so many responsibilities and expectations and so little hope? How to deal with anxiety so you can still function normally?

Well, there’s hope and you can learn all about it with some essential tips for managing anxiety in a relationship.

These anxiety management strategies are easy to follow and can help you in dealing with anxiety issues sprouting up in these unsolicited tough times.

1. Improve communication skills with partner/family

First of all, for managing anxiety in a relationship, introduce a regular time every day where you can have conversations.

These meetings can be just for the partners or also serve as family meetings. Then use the time to talk about the good and the bad.

Stay on topic, stay positive, state what you want in the future. Find resolutions together. Avoid pointing fingers, calling names, or jumping to old issues.

2. Relax the household rules a little

Sometimes what is making you anxious is being very restrictive to yourself or others. Your home is now the safe harbor in times of storm.

You and others in your family need love, understanding, and care for effectively managing anxiety in relationships.

You can bring up (at the regular family meetings) what’s expected from everyone in the family to help keep the house going and live in a safe/clean environment.

Avoid making everyone anxious about household stuff because you will increase the anxiety in the whole situation.

3. Talk about finances and family planning

Take time to brainstorm with your partner about finances, workload, and expenses.

Also, talk about the worst-case scenario, the what-ifs, and come up with a plan that works for your family. Yes! It helps in managing anxiety in a relationship.

Ask the following questions:

A. What if we lose our income?

What bills can we let go (e.g., cellphone, cable, moving to a smaller place), what bill payments can we postpone (e.g., condo fees, credit card), and what bills can be negotiated (e.g., rent, private loans)?

B. What will you do with child care?

If you have children and they are being forced to stay home, how does that affect the household environment? Can you still work from home?

Who will be looking after the children when you are locked in your room for work? Who will be responsible for feeding and caring for the children?

C. What if one or both of you die?

Sound scary? Well, being prepared for any eventuality is a smart thing to do. Just download a free will sample document from the internet and write your will.

Write down your bank accounts, properties, priorities, and desires—record log-in and password information for those accounts at a safe place. Have a living will be prepared (for hospital/health decisions).

4. Selfcare

For managing anxiety in any relationship, build up skills and behaviors that promote caring for yourself.

This includes knowing how to take some breaks to regulate your body or notice when you need a break to go for a walk, drive around, or even take a nice bath.

Mental breaks are also necessary. Watching a movie, reading a book, talking on the phone with family or friends, or playing a game can put a pause in your anxiety and restore your mood.

Watch this video to learn about the importance of self-care:

5. Care of others

People like to feel loved and cared for. Your family is no different. Find ways to make them feel appreciated, and they will likely reciprocate.

Engage in doing small things like offering them something to drink or eat, ask them if they want to go for a walk or drive around a little, help them with their chores and activities they are engaged in.

When you feel the connection and a sense of normalcy, not only will your anxiety diminish, but you are also helping reduce stressors in your body.

This is one of the best ways of managing anxiety in relationships.

6. Professional help

Most importantly, if you are having crippling symptoms of anxiety such as constant heart palpitations, a knot in your throat, nervousness, difficulty breathing, racing thoughts, or difficulties falling and staying asleep, find professional help right away.

Talking to a psychologist and/or taking medication for anxiety will help with your symptoms and help with your relationships.

To learn about other signs and symptoms of relationship issues and anxiety, click here.