One thing that has helped me is reminding myself that this is not a normal situation in which to be working, and that I shouldn’t expect myself to be able to function “normally” or be as productive as I usually am. I’ve lived with anxiety and depression since high school, so going to school while feeling worried, distracted, unfocused, sad, numb, confused, panicked (and a whole host of other emotions) is nothing new to me. The difference now is that I feel less alone in it, knowing that so many of us are feeling the same things, all at the same time. Unfortunately, another difference is that I’m sort of cut off from a lot of my usual support systems, since I can’t physically be with my friends or really get out of the house, which makes it harder to deal with in a lot of ways. I’m still using many of the same coping strategies I’ve used before, like taking frequent breaks, paying close attention to my physical health with healthy meals and exercise, talking to my therapist, and talking to friends and family. I try to be gentle with myself, celebrating what I am able to get done rather than being angry with myself for the things I am unable to do. I remind myself frequently that family and my health come first, and whatever schoolwork and research I can get done after taking care of my family and myself is great, but is not the top priority. Thinking that way helps direct my anxiety away from my work, and ends up making it easier for me to get assignments done and continue to make progress, since I’m not so hung up on trying to work as if nothing is wrong. I think it’s important to honestly acknowledge how I’m feeling and accept it, and accept the momentary dip in my productivity, rather than trying to ignore it, which will only make things worse in the long run.
