During such uncertain times, it’s easy to feel stressed. The multitude of information constantly coming through our televisions, radios, phones, and computers can be extremely overwhelming and affect our emotional and physical equilibrium. With that said, it’s essential to be aware of what’s causing daily stressors, so you can take control of your environment.
Identify the Sources
To understand where your stress stems from, be aware of your daily habits, attitude, and mood. Understanding what triggers daily stressors in your life will make you, the people around you, and your community stronger. Sources of stress can include:
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Changes in physical or eating patterns.
- Fear and worry about your health and the health of those around you.
- Overwhelming information you receive from your television, phone, computer, etc.
- Unfamiliar routine or working from home.
- Uncertainty of what the next day will bring.
Coping with Stress
Here’s some suggestions for what you can do today to support yourself and those around you:
- Take breaks — Temporarily free yourself as needed from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be overwhelming and upsetting.
- Take care of your body — Take deep breaths, stretch, and/or meditate. Exercise, eating well-balanced meals, and getting adequate sleep will boost your immune system and help your body fight off infection.
- Make time to unwind — Detach from technology and instead participate in activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others — Talking with people you trust about how you’re feeling can help you relax. Share what things have helped you manage stress and be open to new ideas!
- Share accurate information about COVID-19 — Know the facts and understand the actual risk to yourself and the people you care about. It can make an outbreak less stressful. If parents and caregivers are speaking with children, confidently and calmly reassure their safety and the efforts in place to improve the circumstances. Limit their exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media for interpretation purposes.
As the situation progresses, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website for more information and resources to help navigate COVID-19.
Information provided by the CDC.