Managing Anxiety and Stress

Stress and Coping

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.  How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and  the community you live in.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include
      • Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
      • Children and teens
      • People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
      • People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include
      • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
      • Changes in sleep or eating patterns
      • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
      • Worsening of chronic health problems
      • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

Things you can do to support yourself
    • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
    • Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
    • Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
    • Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

 

Information provided by https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Tips from SAMHSA to Help Prevent Suicide

During these uncertain times we are all experiencing thoughts that we may have not had before. Some of us are having a wide range of emotions that can affect our personal well-being. There is help, there are people ready to listen. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide—whether you are in crisis or not—call or live chat the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

If someone you know is experiencing a crisis please consider the following measures.
  • Call 911, if danger for self-harm seems imminent.
  • Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves. This will not put the idea into their head or make it more likely that they will attempt suicide.
  • Listen without judging and show you care.
  • Stay with the person or make sure the person is in a private, secure place with another caring person until you can get further help.
  • Remove any objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.

About the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, confidential 24/7 phone line that connects individuals in crisis with trained counselors across the United States.

You don’t have to be suicidal or in crisis to call the Lifeline. People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, illness, getting over abuse, depression mental and physical illness, and loneliness. Here’s more about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

  • You are not alone in reaching out. In 2018, more than 2.2 million people called the Lifeline.
  • The Lifeline is funded and managed by SAMHSA. The Lifeline is a network of over 150 crisis centers nationwide.
  • Calls to the Lifeline are routed to the nearest crisis center for connections to local resources for help.
  • Responders are trained counselors who have stopped over 90 percent of suicide attempts or ideation among callers.
  • Learn what happens when you call the Lifeline network.
  • Frequently asked questions about the Lifeline.
Information from https://www.samhsa.gov/suicide