Navigating Anxiety During the Third Wave

Many of us have experienced the hardships of the Covid-19 pandemic all too well. While there is finally light at the end of the tunnel with the more vaccines being offered to more British Columbians, that same tunnel seems to have become longer as we battle the third wave of the pandemic.

 With more contagious strains among us and a rising case count, there is a cycle of anxiety and depression among people of all ages and backgrounds.  At Waypoint, we have heard from clients who are also feeling anger, in addition to anxiety, when they hear of people refusing to follow safety precautions such as wearing masks and restricting their social contacts.  These extended restrictions can be particularly hard on people living alone as well as students doing online school. We have started to call this phenomenon “anxious exhaustion” as people have become so tired of waiting for a return to normal life. 

While it is true the third wave is hitting B.C. communities, it is important to remember that vaccines are rolling out and almost a quarter of residents have been immunized. It has been projected that the majority of B.C.’s population will have received at least one shot of a vaccine by the summer.

While the future can feel hopeless there are still many ways to help anxiety during this time and still be safe.  Focus on the things you can control.  Remember you cannot control how long the pandemic will last or the severity of an outbreak in your town or area. But you can control how you respond to it.  Stay connected to your friends and family, in whatever safe way you can.  Most importantly, and sometimes the most difficult, try your hardest to take care of yourself. Try to form regular, healthy habits, such as eating well each day, sleeping eight hours a night, and try to get outside at least once a day. Speaking with a counsellor can also help you to understand and navigate your feelings of anxiety during the pandemic, and give you some tools to better respond to the stresses you are facing. Learn more about stress and anxiety counselling here. 

We’re Here For You

Reach out if you’d like to talk to a counsellor.  At Waypoint Counselling, we will respond to your call, text or message in less than 24 hours.  We have counsellors located in Greater Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna and the Cowichan Valley.  All of our counsellors provide therapy by phone or secure video link and some who have large offices offer safe in-person sessions.