The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause the following:
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones, your financial situation or job, or loss of support services you rely on.
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Worsening of chronic health problems.
- Worsening of mental health conditions.
- Increased use of tobacco, and/or alcohol and other substances.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic can depend on your background, your social support from family or friends, your financial situation, your health and emotional background, the community you live in, and many other factors. The changes that can happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways we try to contain the spread of the virus can affect anyone.
The fear of the unknown can be hard to describe because all the feelings and thoughts around this fear are in our head. These negative feelings and thoughts create mental blocks. It is these mental blocks that influence the way in which we live our life and if let loose can have a detrimental impact on us living our lives to the fullest. When we choose to live with our fear of the unknown, the choices and decisions we make do not serve us well. Any decision we make based from this fear will not be a decision that will move us forward in life.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” By Nelson Mandela
Healthy ways to cope with stress during COVID-19.
· Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19. Contact a health professional before you start self-treatment for COVID-19.
· Know where and how to get treatment and other support serices and resources, including counselling or therapy (in person or through telephone).
· Take care of your emotional health. It will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family.
· Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
· Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthily. Exercise regularly. Get plenty of sleep. Avoid excessive alcohol and drug use.
· Make time to unwind. Try to do other activities you enjoy.
· Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
· Connect with your community or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, consider connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.
Try to set personal goals and meet them. If you can immerse yourself in activities that bring you pleasure without intrusive thoughts about what tasks you need to complete, you are able to fully relax, resulting in you being less susceptible to stress-related mental and physical illness.