How I’m Managing My Anxiety and Parenting During COVID-19
Written by Heidi Lynn Borst
I’ve lived with anxiety in varying gradients throughout my entire life. As a kid, I was considered “shy,” always hiding behind my mother or sister when introduced to new people. Throughout high school and young adulthood, I struggled to quiet my inner paranoia over how others perceived me, always “in my own head.” I averted my eyes when passing someone on the street, not comfortable enough to look up and say hello.
Now in my 40s with a child of my own, I’ve mastered the many challenges my social anxiety presents, finding healthy ways to keep my self-inflicted fears in check. No longer dependent on two to three glasses of wine to feel comfortable in social situations, I’ve struck a manageable balance of social engagements and “me” time. My anxiety is not a limit anymore, and I’ve flourished. Then came COVID-19, a worldwide crisis that has brought many of us to our knees. My anxiety has resurfaced to an astonishing degree, an ever-persistent lump in my throat that I can’t seem to eradicate.
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