You love your spouse more than life itself and it is upsetting to see them sick on a normal day, let alone if they have contracted the novel coronavirus strand.

As more information about coronavirus comes to light, it's only natural to feel anxious about the future, but anxiety won't help your situation. In fact, putting unnecessary stress on yourself is bad for both your physical and mental health.

We often fear what we don't understand and when it comes to the coronavirus, there's still a lot we don't understand. Here are 10 tips on how to handle your anxiety if your spouse has become infected with Covid-19.

1. Take deep breaths.

Living in the time of Covid-19 is incredibly stressful, but it's important not to let yourself become overwhelmed with anxiety. It won't be good for your mental or physical health.

Practice deep breathing. It may sound "hippie-dippy" but studies show that breathing exercises can act as a mood elevator and aid in stress reduction.

Taking a moment to center yourself with yoga or breathing exercises can also help you feel more grounded amidst all the chaos that's happening right now.

2. Self-quarantine.

If your spouse has contracted coronavirus they must be quarantined and confined to a bedroom.

It can be difficult to see the one you love suffering, especially with this illness that we seem to know so little about. While it is your responsibility to make sure they are fed while they are sick, you should not spend any time together beyond this. Both your spouse and yourself should be quarantined for 14 days or longer.

3. Stay social while social distancing.

Just because you're in isolation doesn't mean you should be isolated. Stay in touch with your spouse through video chat and continue communicating. You want to keep your relationship strong during this difficult time.

Skyping or playing virtual games with friends and family regularly is another great way to reduce anxiety and stay social while self-isolating.

4. Be prepared.

Just because you are being quarantined doesn't mean you can't still be prepared for being ill.

Call a trusted family member or friend and have them leave a bag of supplies at your front door. Your supplies should include enough food for at least 14 days as well as vitamins and Tylenol.

Knowing that you are prepared for the next few weeks of isolation will help reduce the anxiety you feel.

5. Do not rush to the hospital.

Health organizations are telling the public not to go to the hospital if they have symptoms of coronavirus unless it is life-threatening. The best thing your spouse can do if they are sick is to stay at home and rest.

6. Make a financial plan.

Finances are one of the biggest stressors affecting those during Covid-19. Many people are being told to shelter in place or are being put on lockdown. During this time, non-essential businesses are being shut down and are leaving many without jobs.

Now is the time to create a budget. Knowing how much money you have and how long it is going to last you will put your mind at ease about your financial future... or at least give you a better idea of where you stand.

You can also cut your anxiety in half by searching your official government website to see if you qualify for any financial relief packages during these trying times.

7. Communicate your feelings.

Communication is important for our relationships and even more so for our mental health. If you are stressed, confide in a trusted loved one about it. Even though they might not be able to fix your problem, you will still gain comfort from their love and concern.

Even the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website recommends communication as a top priority when it comes to easing stress and depression brought on by the coronavirus.

8. Create healthy habits.

Adopting healthy habits during the Covid-19 crisis (and beyond) is a smart decision to make. Such habits should include:

* Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough
* Wear gloves and mask if you have to go grocery shopping
* Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for 20 seconds
* Disinfect/clean your house regularly, including doorknobs and surfaces
* Exercise daily
* Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth
* Avoid contact with your spouse if they are sick
* Eat nutritious foods. Buy bright-colored vegetables, leafy greens, and healthy proteins. These will help keep your body in tip-top shape.

9. Get only the facts

It's a natural reaction to obsess over things we don't understand or things that upset us—even if doing so causes us coronavirus anxiety.

To combat this, make sure you're getting the facts from the experts. Avoid using unqualified social media and blogs to get your news. Instead, use your official government website and the official CDC website to get factual information that is not sensationalized.

10. Take an electronic snooze

If your spouse has coronavirus, it can be tempting to look up all of the things that can go wrong with their health, but try and avoid dwelling on it.

Social media can be stressful even when the world isn't going through a pandemic, so do yourself and your health a favor and take a news break for a couple of days.

Coronavirus anxiety is real and we are all going through this scare together. If your spouse has coronavirus, have them self-isolate. In the meantime, wash your hands and disinfect your house regularly. Maintain healthy habits, and do things to de-stress like breathing exercises and practicing hobbies. This too shall pass, but we must be patient!

Sylvia Smith loves to share insights on how couples can revitalize their love lives in and out of the bedroom. As a writer at Marriage.com, she is a big believer in living consciously and encourages couples to adopt this principle in their lives too. By taking purposeful and a whole-hearted action, Sylvia feels that every couple can transform their relationship into a happier, healthier one.