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With the COVID-19 pandemic turning everyone's lives upside down, living under the "new normal" can be a daunting challenge for a person who has an anxiety disorder.

Take for example Aura Marie Dagcutan, a communication and advocacy officer in Plan International Philippines who was diagnosed in 2018.

Aura Marie Dagcutan shares her story about having anxiety disorder

"At first, I was hesitant to get help because of the stigma," said Aura.

She continued, "But it reached a point that it was affecting my day to day life, I was not doing our grocery shopping anymore, I can't stand crowded places and my condition was affecting my work and relationships, I decided to take a break from work and seek help from a psychiatrist."

In a piece written on www. psychiatry.org, it explained that anxiety disorder is different from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, and involve excessive fear or anxiety.

In addition, anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives.

The new normal

Today, Aura is coping well and makes sure to see her doctor twice a month for assessment. She even has a few helpful for those who are finding it hard to adapt to the "new normal."

Watch what you eat! Aura explained, "One of the recommendations of my doctor was to eat healthily and regularly and get enough sleep as much as we can.

"She said that we should give our mind and body its basic needs because there is no way medicines alone would be enough to nourish us."

Acceptance is the key! Do not disregard your emotions and acknowledge how and what you feel. Talking to someone you can trust about your condition will also help you a lot to cope with the crazy life we have to deal with.

Consult with a doctor. Googling about your anxiety disorder will not do you any good. Consult with a healthcare professional.

Move it! There are a ton of activities to lessen the stress we feel during this pandemic. Aura suggested trying activities like meditation, yoga, planting, painting among others to take a breather from this crazy situation.

Aura also reminded everyone to not be afraid of seeking professional help. Always remember that you deserve to live a stress-free life and you can only do it by making the first step by seeking the help of a professional.

Hang in there. Better days are up ahead!

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