Coping with stress during pandemic

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 difficulty in sleeping,change in appetite, worsening of mental health, frustration etc. It is natural to feel stress, anxiety,grief and worry during covid-19 pandemic.

There are various ways in which we can cope with stress:

  1. Take care of your body- Try to eat healthy and balanced meals, get plenty of sleep, do meditation or exercise regularly, and get vaccinated with covid-19 vaccine when available.
  2. Take breaks from news- It’s good to be informed,but hearing about 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.
  3. Make time to unwind and connect with others- Try to do some other activities you enjoy. Talk to people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Taking care of yourself can be better equip you to take care of others. During times of social distancing, it is especially important to stay connected with your friends and family. Helping others cope with stress through phone cls or video chats can help you with your loved ones feel less lonely or isolated.

Mental health and crisis-

If you are struggling to cope, there are many ways to get help. Call a healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. During times of extreme stress, people may have thoughts of suicide. Suicide is preventable and help is available. Free and confidential crisis resources can also help you or a loved one connect with a skilled, trained counselor in your area .