Managing COVID-19 Stress
Are you stressed about COVID-19? Here’s how to tell, and what you can do about it.
Signs of Stress
Signs that COVID-19 may be causing you stress include:
• Changes in sleep pattern
• Changes in appetite
• Trouble concentrating
• Worries about your health
• Worsening of your mental health
• Worsening of your physical health
Ways to Manage Your Stress:
Fortunately, even if you’ve noticed changes in your health or behavior due to anxiety over COVID-19, there are things you can do to manage the effects of stress in your life.
• Take a break from the news. Too much news coverage can cause your anxiety to spike, so limit your exposure as much as possible. Once you have the information you need to stay safe, take a media break so your mind can rest.
• Take care of your body. Stress takes a toll on your physical health, so it’s important to prioritize things like getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and staying active.
• Take care of your mind. Stress also weighs on the mind, making it hard to focus or control your emotions. Make time to engage your brain in positive activities like reading, learning a new skill, or creating artwork.
• Make time to relax. One of the things stress does is to activate the ‘high-alert settings’ of your brain. This is a useful fight-or-flight response in the short-term, but when it lasts too long it can lead to exhaustion, so give yourself a chance to relax, slow down, and breathe.
It’s important to recognize the signs of stress so that you can better manage them. If you feel that you need additional help in managing your stress during this time, please reach out to schedule a telehealth session with one of our providers. We’re here to support you in taking care of your mental health.
