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Stress Awareness Month has been recognized every April since 1992. Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. Everyone expresses stress from time to time. Anything from everyday responsibilities like work and family to serious life events such as a new diagnosis, or the death of a loved one can trigger stress. For immediate, short-term situations, stress can be beneficial to your health. It can help you cope with potentially serious situations. Your body responds to stress by releasing hormones that increase your heart and breathing rates and ready your muscles to respond.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.
Stress can cause the following:
–Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
–Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests
–Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
–Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
–Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
–Worsening of chronic health problems
–Worsening of mental health conditions
–Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances
It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are ways that you can help yourself, others, and your community manage stress.
Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress:
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. It’s good to be informed, but hearing about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a couple times a day and disconnecting from phone, TV, and computer screens for a while.
–Take care of your body
–Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate
–Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals
–Exercise regularly
–Get plenty of sleep
–Avoid excessive alcohol, tobacco, and substance use
—Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
Continue with routine preventive measures (such as vaccinations, cancer screenings, etc.) as recommended by your healthcare provider. Get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine when available.
What else can I do?
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.
There are plenty of resources and helpful organizations available to help with your own struggles regarding stress. One way of doing something for stress awareness month is the 30-day challenge. The 30-day challenge encourages you to do one action for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing every day. This can be really helpful in changing your mindset and outlook on stress, as well as finding ways to help cope with your own stresses. You may learn a lot about yourself and the triggers that come with stress too.
Disclaimer: Health experts suggest that you talk to your doctor before you start, change or modify your medications, lifestyle or current treatment regimen.
Picture credit: Does stress management become more difficult as you age? – Harvard Health
References
Does stress management become more difficult as you age? – Harvard Health
Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19 | CDC
