Wellness
Pandemic stress mixed with existing stress may require additional coping techniques. Metro Creative Connection
How to properly cope with stress
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 first significant
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
Caribbean L 26 ife, October 16-22, 2020
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 fluid, 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
during uncertain times