With all the changes happening as we overcome this pandemic, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious and stress.

So joining us now is board certified psychiatrist Dr Jessica Clemens.

Dr.

Clemens, Thank you for being here.

We know that social distancing can lead to fewer personal interactions, which could make it harder to control your stress, your emotions, your anxiety.

So how do you help avoid these feelings at a time like this?

Absolutely so to begin.

This is a time where a lot of people are feeling anxiety.

Quite frankly, I imagine most people are forget the 40 million people who already experience anxiety disorders.

So what I tell people in times like these, especially with social distancing, to be creative about ways to remain engage with people in their lives, right?

So if you're at home because schools closed or you're working from home now, do things like face time face to face time.

Your family members make sure that you're checking in a very intentional way, you know, also check on your neighbor's doing things to remain engaged and not really overdoing it with the social distancing.

You don't to completely avoid anyone, obviously, unless you are quarantine.

But it's going to be important to do that, because again, isolation could make one feel even more depressed, anxious, and continue to have those thoughts that are really hard to get out of the loop once you've started it.

When it comes to your setup at home, are there things you can do to make the environment more comforting?

Absolutely.

So you know now that we're kind of going into spring, at least here in New York, one of the great things that you can absolutely like.

And Gabe, get that sunlight coming into your home.

You know, try to do things to really get, get, get, you know, change the environment in a way that you you feel, you know, more calm, right?

So if you have access to greenery doing things like that but also really using the space in a meaningful way, So doing things like yoga exercising within the home, really using what you have access to you to keep yourself active and and motivated, and then one of the symptoms of Corona virus is difficulty breathing, but that can also be a symptom of anxiety.

So how do you tell the difference?

So I always tell people with anxiety, typically the only the only symptom that a person is experiencing its not just shortness of breath, right?

So it typically is associated with things like having trouble feeling like your heart is racing or feeling tremulous or perhaps coming, being brought on by an anxious thought with Corona virus.

Shortness of breath.

It's certainly a sign, but also it's typically associated with things like fever or cough, or being exposed to someone who is either infected with Coronavirus or coming from a place that has already a pretty high rate.

So I tell people, Look, if you're feeling anxious and he suddenly can't catch your breath, try to take a breath.

And if you find that that relieves your symptoms, it probably is not Corona virus.

But when in doubt, get, you know, professional attention.

And then we get questions by so many parents wondering, How do I talk to my kids about this?

So I think it's important to not lean towards trying to give them false hope rate.

It's important to just be honest about what's happening.

Be honest about the fact that we're all trying to be protected, you know, safeguard ourselves, but also give them opportunities to focus on other things.

So try to do things to keep them entertained.

You know, play games.

Bring back some of the old school things, like cooking together, spending time together.

But but again, being very honest about what's happening and listening, listening is very gonna be very important in that relationship with your child.

Don't try to tell them how they should feel would be open to what they share about the experience, right?

It's tough to be, you know, out of school if you're expecting to spend time with your friends.

And now you know classes are canceled for the rest of the semester, so it's just important to really sand tune and stay engaged with them.

And and really be supportive during this time.

Great advice, Dr Clement.

Thanks for being on.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Hi, everyone.

George Stephanopoulos Here.

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