Insights from Dr. Kim: Helping Your COVID-19 Anxious Spouse

A lot of us experience anxiety when things are “normal.” During times of crisis many more of us will be anxious. Our last national crisis was 9/11. It was awful to grieve together as a nation, yet, the attacks were localized. This virus is different because it is basically everywhere. We are a very global culture and there is good and bad in that. With a virus like this, many may wish for isolationism, but I think that ship has long since sailed.  

So the question is this: how do we handle our anxiety and how do we help our spouse who is anxious?

Here are some ideas for you to consider.

• Pray. Pray for God’s peace in you. Pray for those affected. Pray for the virus to be contained. Spray for a cure and a preventative. Prayer is taking an action step and God hears our prayers.

• Limit what you watch, read, or listen to concerning the virus. Most media coverage is a rehashing of things we have heard before. I think watching a recap daily is enough. I would recommend max time engaged in this subject to be an hour a day; with 30 minutes being even better.  

• When watching Netflix, Hulu, Prime, or other streaming content, filter out what you watch. Stay with content that is uplifting, funny, or encouraging.

• Read the Bible. There are a lot of YouVersion Reading plans that deal with anxiety.

• Find Bible verses that are comforting to you and write them out and place them where you will see them often. 

• Never forget that God is always and forever in control and that He will never leave you or forsake you.