By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
For some, we live in a frightening time.
We are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic with cities and even entire countries shutting down. While some are in areas that have already been affected by coronavirus, others are bracing for what may come.
"People are very anxious about it and that is because of the uncertainty and changing nature," said Dr. Patrick Stang with the Center for Counseling and Consultation in Great Bend. "People are very adaptable but you can only do that until a certain point."
Stang is practicing psychiatrist at the Center.
"I think what is making people anxious is that every time you turn on the news or talk to someone, something has changed," said Stang. "It is that changing nature that people have trouble adapting to quickly."
Stang notes there are many things you can do, even in the face of this crisis, to manage your anxiety and fears. One of those strategies is limiting the amount of information we digest and picking a time when to watch and listen.
"People are stuck at home and they have the news on or the computer up," said Stang. "The news has a 24-hour cycle, always updating. People need to control how many times they look at the news."
Stang suggests when you feel yourself getting caught up in fear of what might happen, shift your focus to things you can control. For example, you cannot control how severe the coronavirus outbreak is, but you can take steps to reduce your own personal risk.