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Stress
Stress Is Normal
Stress is a normal reaction in our lives when we feel we are in danger or unable to cope with a situation. The first humans needed the innate stress response of flight or fight to stay safe in a dangerous world. Years later, we still have that stress reflex, and it can help us when we are at risk.
Stress is a healthy human response. It is also a motivating state. That means it helps you:
- Be more aware of your surroundings.
- Get ready to take action.
- Plan and prepare for the future.
Sometimes, situations happen that increase your stress. But stress can become a problem if that stress response is triggered day after day or if we are unable to recover from it. Our bodies and brains are not designed to be in stress mode all the time. When our stress systems get overworked, we are at increased risk for physical health and mental health problems.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may need to do some stress-busting activities:
- Feeling depressed, irritable, angry, anxious or overwhelmed
- Fatigue
- Lack of interest or motivation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Tension in the back and shoulders
- Trouble sleeping
Sometimes, situations happen that increase your stress. That can cause problems in your daily life.
Take out Impact of Covid 19 paragraph that says:
There are active steps you can take to manage COVID-19 stress:
- Maintain healthy habits.
- Stay connected and be disconnected sometimes.
- Practice relaxation methods.
- Be aware of your thinking.
- Practice kindness.
- Take reasonable precautions.
How the body and mind show stress
There are a number of ways that your body and mind show stress. Some common ways are:
- Emotionally. This includes anxiety, fear, grief, irritability, and sadness.
- Physically. This includes sleep problems, tension and fatigue.
- Thinking. This includes racing thoughts, worry, persistent worry, and negative thoughts, called rumination.
- Behaviours. This includes avoidance, social withdrawal, seeking reassurance, and excessive checking, which is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
It’s important to remember that stressful times come and go. When things are feeling more uncertain, try to focus on those things you can control.
Tips to Help You Manage Stress
There are active steps you can take to manage COVID-19 stress:
- Maintain healthy habits.
- Stay connected and be disconnected sometimes.
- Practice relaxation methods.
- Be aware of your thinking.
- Practice kindness.
- Take reasonable precautions.
Maintain healthy habits
The first step to lower your stress is to keep a daily schedule. Make or maintain healthy habits and routines. This can help boost your mood and energy levels.
- Make sleep a priority. Get up at about the same time every day. Go to bed at about the same time every day. Make sure that you are getting enough restful sleep. When you sleep too little or too much, it tends to cause problems.
- Be physical. Plan 30 minutes of physical activity or exercise every day. Use a variety of activities so you stay interested and engaged. Walking is a great option. Plan to go outside to get fresh air every day.
- Eat well. Nourish your body with foods that support your health. Examples include fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains. Other healthy foods are fish, lean meats, beans, and legumes. These foods give you long-lasting energy.
- Hydrate well. Drink plenty of water.
- Take care of yourself:
- Wake up your brain: Start each day with a shower or bath. Get dressed.
- Stay engaged with activities that are meaningful to you.
- Keep up with your daily chores.
- Take the medications prescribed to you and a daily vitamin.
- Ask for help if you struggle to take care of yourself.
Stay connected and disconnected
Make plans with family members, friends and other social-support people who reliably make you feel better. When physical distancing is advised, use virtual connections such as phone, text and video messaging. Staying connected to healthy social support is essential to your well-being.
Staying informed about current events also is helpful. But sometimes it can be overwhelming. Set limits on social media and the news. Avoid looking for numerous news sources during the day. Rely on one or two trusted sources.
Finally, think about disconnecting from the news for periods of time during the day. Try this: Schedule 15 to 30 minutes, two times a day, to get news. If your stress level rises, it’s perfectly OK to disconnect from electronics and other news sources.
Practice relaxation methods
Consider all the ways you can relax and manage your stress. Make a list of your favourite options and some others you may not have tried yet. Try some of these options:
- Relaxed breathing (deep breathing)
- Mindfulness
- Meditation
- Muscle stretches
- Listening to music
- Going for a drive
- Watching something that makes you laugh
Put this list where you can see it. Schedule small amounts of relaxation throughout your day. This can help relieve your stress before it builds to a level that interferes with your day.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be an especially helpful way to lower stress. Worries force you to focus inward on distressing thoughts. Mindfulness helps you learn how to change your focus to the environment around you.
When you are mindful, you don’t fight with your thoughts. You learn how to direct your attention, awareness and thoughts back to the present moment. Mindfulness is about focus. You focus only on what is happening right now. You focus with intention and purpose, without judgment. When you are being mindful, you are present in the moment and accept the moment as it is. This practice can be very calming.
Be aware of your thinking
Worry is common during times of stress. Worry can change how you think in three ways. You may:
- Catastrophize, or think the worst.
- Overestimate the likelihood that bad things will happen to you.
- Underestimate your ability to cope when bad things happen.
The more anxious you get, the less flexible your thinking becomes. Try to keep this in mind:
- The most catastrophic outcomes tend to be the least likely to happen.
- The least catastrophic outcomes tend to be the most likely to happen.
If you worry a lot, try this exercise. To start, write down five worries. Next, directly challenge those worries. To do that, think about each worry and write out answers to these questions:
- What is a different, less-negative way to look at this situation?
- What is the real likelihood that this will happen?
- What objective evidence do I have that supports my worry?
- What objective evidence do I have against this worry?
- How have I coped with situations like this in the past?
It’s important to write out these thoughts. Doing that helps you train your brain to be more flexible.
Practice kindness
As stress goes up, a person’s tolerance can go down. Try to be patient, kind and helpful. Do what you can to be a positive influence on others. Work together as a team when possible. Think about how you can help people in need. For example, donate food or money to a food pantry, donate blood or do lawn care for a family that may be struggling right now.
Take reasonable precautions
Check on the resources you have at home. Make a shopping list of what you actually need. Don’t buy more than you need now or will need in the near future.
Keep up to date with your local health authorities or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Know the best way to clean your hands and disinfect surfaces. Know when it’s necessary to use a face mask. Avoid doing more than the precautions recommended by those experts.
Closing Thoughts
It is understandable for people to feel more stress in times like these. Many changes are happening. And they can have a direct impact on your daily life.
- Remember that you’ve gone through stressful times before. Use that experience to help you get through this. Over time, things will move from being uncertain to being more certain.
- If it’s appropriate, avoid making big decisions at this time. Talk to a trusted advisor, friend or family member as needed.
- Keep track of your overall stress level. Remember to use the stress-relief methods that have helped you before. Schedule small amounts of relaxation throughout your day. Quick, easy methods include relaxed breathing and simple body stretches held for a few seconds.
- Know your stress limits. If it’s hard for you to cope, reach out to supportive friends or family. Contact your health care team if needed. They can talk to you about local resources and any appropriate treatment options you may have.
