Join the conversation as Dr. Rosmarin talks about how we can manage our feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic — and how we can emerge mentally stronger. Rosmarin and Connolly also speak with guest Mike Veny, who normally boxes at a gym to keep his temper under control. The gym is closed due to the pandemic, and Veny speaks about his struggles since losing his main outlet. The following are some highlights from an edited transcript of the interview. RELATED: Tippi Coronavirus: Tips for Living With COVID-19 Maureen Connolly: Given the global pandemic and living each day with the threat of contracting COVID-19, we’re experiencing anxiety at record highs. Can you help us understand why we get anxious in the first place, especially in a time like this? David Rosmarin: The clinical science tells us that people get anxious because we can’t tolerate not knowing what’s going to happen next. Not being able to predict or control the future, if people can’t handle that, it ultimately creates a sense of anxiety. Right now, it’s very clear that we can’t control anything, so our levels of uncertainty are higher than they’ve ever been in recent history. Most of us don’t have training in how to tolerate the enormous amount of uncertainty that we’re all facing, so I think that’s the main reason why we’re suffering so much today. Connolly: Life is very different right now, and without the routines we’re accustomed to, everything feels so much harder. What can we do about that? Is there a way to manufacture some type of new routine? Rosmarin: Yes, there are degrees to which we can manufacture routine. I’m doing research with some folks at Columbia [University, in New York City], and our initial study found that the top predictor of anxiety today — even more than having a preexisting health condition or being exposed to COVID-19 — is quality sleep. And quality of sleep was predicted by having a set bedtime. If people have a consistent bedtime, that can potentially account for alleviating 40 percent of a person’s anxiety, according to our data. RELATED: Is COVID-19 Anxiety Messing With Your Sleep? Here Are 8 Tips for Getting It Back on Track Connolly: We talk a lot at Everyday Health about meditation and how using the breath can help reduce stress and anxiety. Explain to us what happens in the brain when we meditate and why it’s so incredibly powerful. Rosmarin: Our frontal cortex is already very active in day-to-day life, but especially when we’re worrying or ruminating on what’s to come. Through meditation, you can learn to quell down that energy just by focusing on the moment and letting go of those thoughts. That’s hugely helpful in the moment. But I think, again, the mechanism is to try not to control anything during my meditation. I’m actually letting go. I’m not going try to change. I’m not going to look at my email. I’m not going to plan or even think about the future. I’m just going to “be” for these couple of minutes. And that seems to be the mechanism; to let ourselves just be and not have to change everything. That’s the place we need to get to.
