I still react to certain things from the pandemic more than I expect. Crowded stores can make me tense before I even realize why, and hearing someone cough nearby sometimes sends my thoughts racing. I know the situation is different now, but my body doesn’t always seem to believe that.
The hardest part is how random it feels. I can go weeks feeling mostly normal, then a news story or a familiar smell brings back that trapped feeling. I try to remind myself that I’m safe in the present, but it can take a while for the panic to settle.
Has anyone found a way to stop those reactions from taking over the rest of the day?
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Roger, the familiar smell bringing it all back makes sense to me. Our bodies can react before our thoughts catch up, even when we know we’re safe.
What helps me is naming five things I can see and slowing my exhale, then doing something ordinary like making tea or taking a short walk. I try not to spend the rest of the day analyzing why it happened. A quick reset works better for me than arguing with the feeling.
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@Frank_Yates, the part about not analyzing it for the rest of the day is probably the hardest and most useful bit. I can get stuck trying to figure out why a reaction happened, and that usually keeps it alive longer.
Doing something ordinary right after makes sense too. I’ve had better luck washing dishes or stepping outside than sitting there checking whether I feel calm yet. Slowing the exhale helps me come back to the room instead of getting pulled into the memory.