This resource sheet covers understanding the common reactions in yourself and others during the COVID-19 pandemic, things you can do to take care of yourself and cope with feelings of stress, anxiety, or discomfort related to COVID-19, and useful resources and supports. Taking care of our well-being in times such as these can help to mitigate stress, and is critical in allowing us to still act calmly and effectively amid this global crisis. Stress management is important to good physical health, and is particularly crucial now that our world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Change is stressful, and stress leads to anxiety, which adversely impacts our mental and physical health.
The constant changing environment of the news creates lots of stress, and that stress is amplified if you are sleep-deprived. It is particularly important to get the recommended amount of sleep right now, both to keep focused at work and to handle the stress the current pandemic may bring. While staying up-to-date on news is essential during COVID-19, it can be overwhelming to hear.
While your routines might change, try creating a new one that you can stick with throughout this time. When stuck in the house, it may be tempting to abandon basic routines, but Marc Flanagan says that having a morning routine helps you feel more productive and positive. If you are spending a lot of time indoors, you might want to try a new hobby, or work on something that you enjoy doing but have not always had the time for. Almost any type of physical activity can be stress-relieving, so enjoy changing your routine.
While gyms are closing down and social distancing guidelines are being put into effect, there is still the option of engaging in aerobic activity, such as walking, running, hiking, or playing with your kids/pets, and aerobic activity may help release endorphins (natural substances that make you feel better and keep you in a positive frame of mind).
Taking good care of your body not only makes you feel better, it also keeps you from getting sick. Learning to manage stress and maintain health at home will make you, those you care about, and your community stronger. Taking these steps to cope with stress and adding some sense of normalcy can make all the difference in helping you deal with an ever-changing news environment, and helping keep the people around you, particularly children, calm and focused.
While staying informed is important, it is also important that we do our part to manage stress on an individual level, and to help our loved ones do the same. When so many things seem uncertain or beyond our control, one of the most effective ways to handle our stress and anxiety is to focus on actions we do have control over. Talking about our concerns, thoughts, and feelings with others also helps us to come up with helpful ways of thinking about or dealing with the stressful situation.
You may learn how to observe and allow thoughts and feelings to arise and pass on their own terms, without being overtaken by them. Before you talk, collect evidence that supports what you are feeling, and show how the changes might be helping.
It may be useful to take a step back and assess how you are dealing with the stresses of coronavirus (COVID-19) and social distancing. Social distancing due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) is one of the best things we can do now to reduce our communitys risk for spreading the virus. The Australian Department of Health has recommended that important actions that we all can take to help prevent infection and to stop COVID-19 spreading include practicing good hygiene, isolation, and social distancing (physical distance). While there is no guarantee that you or someone you love will not contract COVID-19, the best you can do is manage your risk by taking preventative measures, including washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, not touching your eyes, and staying home if you are feeling unwell.
It is normal to feel stressed, sad, or anxious about COVID-19, especially if you or a loved one is sick. With a constant barrage of information surrounding 2019s new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it is easy to feel stressed or anxious. Some common causes of stress during a coronavirus pandemic are uncertainty, a lack of routine, and reduced social support, says Mark Flanagan, LMSW, MPH, MA, social worker at Cancer Wellness of Piedmont.
Fears about spreading COVID-19 may lead some to disconnect from society, but maintaining relationships and social support are good ways to manage anxiety. Some people may experience more stress, increased anxiety, and increased concern compared with their neighbors, friends, and family. It is normal to feel down, but keeping it in may cause even greater mental health consequences. Stress affects so many parts of our bodies, it can lead to breathlessness, aching muscles, and even fatigue.
By taking your mind off of it, you can experience less stress and an increased sense of wellbeing. Meditation helps to regain a sense of control while you concentrate on the breath or on a positive word or phrase. Relaxation techniques, like taking deep breaths, stretching, and meditation, can help you cope with stress.
For instance, if you are missing deadlines because you are not motivated to get work done, see if you can use a stress-reduction strategy to change your motivation. If the problem is external, talk with your partner or employer about how their behaviors might be helpful in helping you cope with the stress. If the stress starts interfering with your day-to-day tasks, this is a good sign it is time to talk with your primary care doctor about intervention, particularly if you think making changes to your life would be hard.
During this period of uncertainty, use the time to take over as much as possible in your home environment. This period of uncertainty can be stressful for adults and children, but tempering expectations on yourself and your children, as well as finding ways to spend your time, you will make it through. Planning ahead for tomorrow at the beginning of the day helps to mitigate the stress associated with what is coming.