Got Stress?
That makes sense.
This is a highly unusual situation, and many of our usual comforts, hobbies, support systems, and ways of providing for ourselves are not available to us. It is okay to feel stressed, it is okay to feel a bit overwhelmed, and it is okay to not be at your most productive. There are some things you can control about this situtation, and there are many things that you cannot.
This website is full of resources and ideas to help you get through this stress, from short-term stress relief in the form of fun distractions, to skills that you can learn to help yourself manage the emotions, behaviors, and thoughts that may be contributing to your stress.
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See below for some quick tips, some information about stress, and ideas for healthy ways to cope.
Limit media
Limit your stress by reducing how much time you spend reading the news or scrolling through social media
Quick Tips
Learn about stress
Everyone experiences stress from time to time. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can happen repeatedly over a long time. Stressors can be chronic, such as pressure from work, school or family, or it can be related to a negative event, such as a job loss. Due to changes implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19, there are many factors that can be causing stress.
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Everyone gets stressed
Not all stress is bad
In a dangerous situation, stress signals the body to prepare to face a threat or flee to safety. In these situations, your pulse quickens, you breathe faster, your muscles tense, and your brain uses more oxygen and increases activity—all functions aimed at survival and in response to stress. In non-life-threatening situations, stress can motivate people, such as when they need to take a test or interview for a new job.
There are ways to manage stress
There are practical ways to manage your stress in a healthy way. These can include things like talking to other people, getting regular exercise, doing relaxing activities, setting goals and priorities so as not to become overwhelmed, meditation, and more. How do your emotions, behaviors and thoughts change in response to stress? Are these changes helpful or unhelpful? Use the worksheet lower on this page to assess how you respond to stress.​
If you’re overwhelmed ask for help
You should seek help right away if you have suicidal thoughts, are overwhelmed, feel you cannot cope, or are using drugs or alcohol more frequently as a result of stress. Your doctor may be able to provide a recommendation, or click the button below to see a list of organizations that you can call to get some help.
Managing stress
Ways to manage stress
Hover your mouse over these ideas to learn more
TRY
Mindfulness
Also check out these pages:
SKILLS
SKILLS
Practice skills that can help you manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and focus on what really matters to you.
SELF CARE
SELF CARE
More than just doing yoga - what can self care look like, and why does it matter?