Pandemics can be stressful
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought stressful situations to many households across the United States. Fear and anxiety about what could happen can be overwhelming and can lead to mental stress in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely which increases stress and anxiety.
Stress during a pandemic can sometimes cause the following:
- Fear and worry about your health and the health of your loved ones, your financial situation, or job security.
- Worsening of mental health conditions.
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances.
Take care of your mental health during Social Distancing
You may worry about getting sick, how long the pandemic will last, whether you’ll lose your job, and what the future will bring. Information overload, rumors, and misinformation can make your life feel out of control and make it unclear what to do.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may experience stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, and loneliness. Some people have increased their use of alcohol or drugs, thinking that can help them cope with their stress. In reality, using these substances can worsen anxiety and depression.
For all of these reasons, it’s important to learn self-care strategies and get the care you need to help you cope.
Take care of your mind by reducing stress triggers
- Keep your routine. Maintaining a regular schedule is important to your mental health. In addition to sticking to a regular bedtime routine, keep consistent times for meals, work or study schedules, and exercise.
- Limit exposure to news media. Constant news about COVID-19 from all types of media can heighten fears about the disease. Limit social media that may expose you to rumors and false information.
- Stay busy. A distraction can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression. Doing something positive to manage anxiety is a healthy coping strategy.
- Focus on positive thoughts. Choose to focus on the positive things in your life, instead of dwelling on how bad you feel.
- Exercise regularly and maintain a proper diet. Doing so can promote a healthy body and mind which will ease tension, relieve stress, and overall make you feel better.
We will slowly get through the pandemic together. As we isolate, we all should focus on improving our mental health and helping friends and family get through this tough time.