How To Cope With Stress During COVID-19

May is Mental Health Awareness month so there is no better time to talk about the stress and anxiety we are all experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. First and foremost, know that it is totally normal to be feeling anxious, stressed, depressed, etc. - not just during a worldwide health crisis but at any point in time. When you experience these changes in your mental state they are resulting from changes in brain chemistry, environmental (outside) changes, or even negative stimuli (like being told constantly by the news that the rates of infection are increasing). So let's say it together, "what you are feeling is normal, it is okay, and you can get through it."

So how do we cope with these changes? Let's be kind to our mind, be SMART:

SEEK HELP - If you are feeling overwhelmed or unsafe reach out to those that are close to you or contact a therapist in your area. Seeing a counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist are totally normal things to do. If you wouldn't leave a broken bone, heart condition, or other physical ailments untreated, then why would you leave your brain (the organ that controls all the others) untreated?

MAKE TIME - When our emotions are heightened, or we are feeling depressed it can be really hard to prioritize ourselves and our basic needs, but these are the times when we need it the most. Get a minimum of eight hours of sleep, eat a minimum of three meals a day, drink at least 60 fluid ounces of water, and try to exercise for 15 minutes (take a walk, ride your bike, follow along to a yoga video on Youtube, or even dance it out).

ASSESS - Pause. Take a moment and breathe as assess how you are feeling. Ask yourself probing questions such as "how am I feeling?", "do I normally feel this way?", "what has changed around me or within me?", or "when did this feeling start?". Take in the information and remind yourself that what you are feeling is temporary, that you are strong, and that you can overcome it.

REACH OUT - Who in your contacts list would answer the phone right now? What friend or family member always has your back? In times like these we can feel increasingly lonely, yet we need to remind ourselves that our loved ones are only a phone call away. Take a second, right now, to message someone you've been meaning to talk to, call a family member you've been missing, or FaceTime your best friend.

TAKE BREAKS - We are constantly being bombarded by COVID-19 content on the radio, news, and social media streams. This influx of information and mass hysteria directly impacts our mental wellbeing and anxiety levels. So how do we quell the uncertainty surrounding us? Tune it out. Take a break from social media, from the news and even from your phone; get outside, breathe some fresh air and reconnect with nature.

This is a difficult time for us all, but, we must not forget that our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Whether you are struggling to pay your rent, feed your children, get out of bed, or even breathe, YOU are here today and that is what is important. We are all fighting our own battles and we are all trying our best to navigate our way out of the pandemic. So please be kind to those around you, respect your essential workers, and remember that we are all in this together.