I was once told:

Worry is like a rocking chair. You go back and forth and back and forth but you never get anywhere.

It's so true, but how do we break the cycle of panic and worry? While doing my morning pages (a stream of consciousness journaling exercise I do most mornings) I came to realize that all of my anxiety was coming from knowing too much about this coronavirus crisis and overthinking it. I mean to say that if it were spreading and we didn't know I wouldn't be feeling any anxiety at all, I'd be in blissful ignorance and all my stress about it wouldn't exist. But we, fortunately, do know what is happening and yet I am using this information for both good (preparedness) and bad (overthinking and panic). Instead of going the overthinking route I am trying to instead just take the information we have and take preventative measures (additional handwashing, social distancing, stocking my pantry, supporting my family and community) to make the situation better. 

Yesterday I listened to Stressproof, episode 55. This podcast is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Susan Choi, the host, said:

During anxiety, on a subconscious level, we are resisting a possible future reality which keeps us stuck in the loop of anxious thoughts. 

This resonated with me so much. Susan explains that a lot of our anxiety stems from future-thinking and running through the multitudes of possible futures, and then rejecting the negative ones even though they haven't happened yet.

I have decided to let go of all that stress and the uncertainty of the future and treat it a little more like all the other uncertainty that exists in life that we are typically unaware of on a daily basis. This doesn't mean pretending like what is happening isn't. But it means accepting that the future isn't certain so I may as well do the little I can and be present in the now.