An expert's advice for anxiety about COVID-19

Psychiatrist Dr. Jay (John) Case, the program director for Virtua Behavioral Health, acknowledges we are all battling information overload.

"Currently, we’re all being flooded with information about COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019)," he said.

And the impact of the virus has led some of us to feel increased anxiety and panic.

"Certainly, some anxiety is appropriate—it’s okay to not be okay—as some experts have said," he said, but offers some suggestions that can be helpful for managing anxiety now and at other times of high stress.

These include:

• Identifying what your concerns are and which are realistic, and which are exaggerated
• Identify the things that are in your control, using this list for planning or action
• Identify what is out of your control, and develop healthy strategies to manage your related anxiety.

He shares detailed tips and advice on the Virtua Health website, which also include how to take things day-by-day and how to take breaks from the relentless onslaught of information.

"At a minimum, anticipate realistic outcomes and plan for them. Try to put things in perspective," he said. "Take things day by day and focus on taking care of yourself and your family in—here and now."

Additional COVID-19 resources from Virtua Health:

• Overall updates on the coronavirus pandemic
• Creating normalcy for children in the midst of COVID-19
• Congressman Donald Norcross addresses the pandemic in South Jersey
• The CDC website