How are you handling the challenges that come with this pandemic?
Since the Coronavirus Outbreak:
66.9% of people report increased STRESS
57.2% of people report increased ANXIETY
75.2% of people report feeling more SOCIALLY ISOLATED
Why are individuals feeling increased stress and anxiety?
A global pandemic on its own can cause fear and uncertainty. From being afraid that you or a family member may contract the virus, to being unsure of how to keep yourself and your loved-ones safe. Many people are feeling increased stress and anxiety.
Additionally, many face fears surrounding job security and financial pressure, educating children from home, and many more factors that only compound the pandemic’s stressors.
What symptoms might show you are stressed or anxious?
Though everyone shows symptoms of stress and anxiety differently, there are some tell-tale signs that your mental health needs some support.
- Feeling emotionally exhausted
- Increased feelings of sadness
- Irritability/increased anger
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in food consumption (over or under eating)
How do we decrease the amount of stress and anxiety surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak?
It is important to work through these feelings by discussing them with a trusted person in your life (we recommend meeting with a mental health clinician). Clinicians can help you to understand why you are feeling stressed and anxious, and help you to work through these feels so that they are more manageable. Contact FamilyMeans Counseling & Therapy today at 651-439-4840 or CLICK HERE to get started.
Some other ways you can get started at home are:
- Spend more time outside
- Start a daily journal where you write out your thoughts and feelings. Try to end each entry with three things you are grateful for in the day.
- Give yourself 30 minutes or more to wind-down before going to bed. This should be technology free time, used to relax and get comfortable so that you go to sleep quicker and stay asleep
- Avoid reading too many news articles, and only read from trusted and accurate sites. Inaccurate news and too much information can weigh on your mental health.
Resources: https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/confronting-mental-health/