Coping During The Pandemic
By Christina Fenske
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many different ways. Most of us have found this pandemic not just challenging but anxiety-producing, stressful, overwhelming by creating feelings of depression, sadness, or even some relationship issues with those we love or care about.
In order to prevent the spread of covid-19, we’ve been mandated by the Public Health Officer to utilize the following action plans such as social distancing, but these very actions that are supposed to help us, may also cause increased stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness, feelings of isolation. To reduce these difficulties, learn to cope in healthy ways not only for yourself but for those you are about most. This will help you to become more resilient and capable to cope with much more than you thought you could.
COVID-19 has perpetuated and not only causes physical health concerns but also results in a number of psychological disorders. The spread of the new coronavirus can impact the mental health of people in different communities. Thus, it is essential to preserve the mental health of individuals and to develop psychological interventions that can improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research shows that the stress induced by the pandemic (2020), “that almost one-quarter of the crowdsource participants (24%) reported fair or poor mental health, 31% reported good mental health, and nearly half (46%) reported very good or excellent mental health. Previously published data from the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey found that 8% of Canadians reported fair or poor mental health, 24% reported good mental health, and 69% reported very good or excellent mental health.”
Stress can cause the following:
- Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
- Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
- Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Worsening of mental health conditions
- Increased use of substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs
It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are ways that you can help yourself, others, and your community manage stress.
Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. It’s good to be informed, but hearing about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a couple of times a day and disconnecting from phone, tv, and computer screens for a while.
- Take care of your body.
- Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditation.
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Avoid excessive alcohol, tobacco, and substance use.
- Continue with routine preventive measures (such as vaccinations, cancer screenings, etc.) as recommended by your healthcare provider.
- Get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine when available.
- 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 over the phone or online.
- Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.
Help Others To Cope
Taking care of yourself can help prepare you to take care of others. During times of social distancing, it is especially important to stay connected with your friends and family. Helping others cope with stress through phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely or isolated.
- If you are struggling to cope, there are many ways to get help. Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
- During times of extreme stress, people may have thoughts of suicide. Suicide is preventable and help is available. More about the risk of suicide, signs to watch for, and how to respond if you notice these signs in yourself or a friend or a loved one, can be found here.
- Free and confidential crisis supports can also help you or a loved one connect with a skilled, trained counsellor in your area. Email us today, we can help at: admin@ovcs.ca.
Learn more about how you cope in another one of our online articles.
If you are in crisis, get immediate help: Call 911
Reference:
Canada (2020), https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200527/dq200527b-eng.htm
