Pandemic stress mixed with existing stress may require additional coping techniques. Metro Creative Connection
How to properly cope with
stress during uncertain times
COURIER LIFE, OCT. 16-22, 2020 27
Stress can affect people’s
lives at any moment.
Some say that a certain
measure of stress can be a
good thing that pushes individuals
to try their best to
overcome obstacles. However,
chronic stress is potentially
dangerous for the mind and
body.
2020 has been a stressful
year for many people. A global
pandemic that emerged in late
2019 and continued into the
new year brought with it many
changes — some of which are
unprecedented. Concerns
about the COVID-19 virus, unemployment,
reduced wages,
and uncertainty about the future
has left many people feeling
adrift.
According to the American
Psychological Association’s
Stress in America survey, the
average reported stress level
for adults in the United States
related to the coronavirus
pandemic is 5.9. When asked
to rate their stress level in
general, the average reported
stress for American adults is
5.4. This is higher than the
average stress level reported
in 2019, which was 4.9, and
marks the fi rst signifi cant increase
in average reported
stress since the survey began
in 2007.
Pandemic stress mixed
with existing stress may require
additional coping techniques.
• Turn negative thinking
into positive thinking. The
occasional pep talk can help
people manage their stress.
Rather than saying “Everything
is going wrong,” tell
yourself “I can handle this, I
have done it before.” Find the
silver lining in situations and
they may not feel so stressful.
• Take things one step at
a time. Getting ahead of yourself
by looking too far into the
future can compound stress.
Focus on the here and now.
Make to-do lists and take situations
as they come day by day
or hour by hour. Situations are
often fl uid, so worrying about
something that is weeks away
is often fruitless.
• Exercise regularly. Find
opportunities to exercise. The
Mayo Clinic says exercise in
almost any form can act as a
stress reliever. Physical activity
can release your feel-good
endorphins and distract you
from daily worries. Exercise
also can mimic the effects of
stress, helping to condition
the body to its effects and buffer
the cardiovascular, digestive
and immune systems
from negative effects.
• Seek out social support.
Chances are someone you know
also is experiencing increased
stress loads. Find the time for
conversation, video chats or
safe, socially distanced meetups
with friends. Each person
can share their unique frustrations
and collectively you can
work through the stress.
• Don’t drown in perfectionism.
Trying to be mistake
free can trigger anxiety
and stress. Being perfect
is impossible and everyone
makes mistakes. According to
Psych Central, mistake-making
can lead to growth and experience,
while perfectionism
may staunch growth because
a person is too afraid to take
chances. Not every decision
you make will be ideal, but
each is a learning experience.
Stress is something most
people come up against in
their daily lives, perhaps
more so than ever this year.
But stress can be wrangled
and minimized.
— Metro Creative Connection
Wellness