Coping with Stress as We Continue to Navigate Through COVID-19
It has been officially a year and some change since the world has been dealing with COVID-19. Although things are slowly starting to open up and improve, the effects of the pandemic are still very relevant. People are still trying to recover and find their grounding; they are still overwhelmed with stress and anxiety—especially when it comes to whether they should get the vaccine or not.
The team at Nurturing You Women’s Health & Wellness wants to help you live a happy and healthy life. We understand that stress has an important role and can be a powerful motivator, but it should not have power over your life. Our goal is to help our patients take back control of their bodies, feel and function better, and worry less!
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
Learning to cope with stress and anxiety in a healthy matter will ensure that everyone and the people that they care about can become resilient. Before going into how to cope with stress, here are a few things that can occur because of it:
- Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
- Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interest
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping and nightmares
- Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances
For those dealing with stress, know that you are not alone and that there are several simple things that you can do to start feeling like yourself again and getting that passion for life back.
Healthy Ways to Cope With Stress
Taking 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. Instead, keep quiet, meditative sounds in your surroundings – there are LOT of apps and YouTube stations to listen to meditative music, psalms & hymns, “spa music”, nature sounds, and more to help you stay relaxed.
Take Care of Your Body
Stress is a natural response to external threats, whether they are perceived or real. If you are constantly worrying and fearful, your body assumes you are in some form of danger and engages the stress response to the point of exhaustion. The best thing you can do for stress is to make decisions that actively reduce and relieve it. Things like:
- Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate
- Try eating healthy, well-balanced meals – stay away from sugars and too much caffeine
- Exercise regularly
- Get plenty of sleep – if you are having difficulty, there are natural supplements that can help, but DON’T miss this critical part of your regimen, lack of sleep exacerbates anxiety and can contribute to hormonal imbalance
- Avoid excessive alcohol, tobacco, and substance use
- Continue with routine 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
If your days consist of non-stop, all-day activity and work, you will find yourself burnt out in no time at all. You need to make the conscious decision to give your mind a much-needed break. Something as simple as sitting in silence with your phone off, or enjoying a favorite activity for 30 minutes can help reset your body and mind, leaving you feeling replenished.
Communicate With Others
Talking about your stress and your feelings can be incredibly cathartic and relieving. The act of opening up and letting things out can feel as though a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Take time to talk with friends and family, they may have similar stories or thoughts that can reassure you, that you are not alone, and that others are feeling the same burdens.
Speaking with a therapist is also an incredible tool to relieve stress, but also gain perspective. They can highlight certain thought habits and subconscious choices you make that could be contributing to your stress!
Connect With Your Community
Engage with your neighbors, help in your community. Philanthropy in the form of time and effort can be one of the most personally rewarding and stress-relieving activities you can do. Making a difference in someone else’s life can be a rewarding experience that reminds you of what’s important in life, and help remind you not to stress over the small things.
Essential Oils
There are specific natural ingredients that affect our bodies in unique ways. People have used lavender scents and oils to create calm and relaxing environments for hundreds of years. Today, lavender oil and many others, each with unique benefits, can be diffused into the air, applied to the skin topically, or ingested orally. Essential oils can be an incredible addition to your daily life as you attempt to reduce and relieve stress.
Nurturing You offers a range of essential oils to help our patients achieve mental and physical wellbeing. Browse our complete offering of essential oils here: nurturingyou.com/supplements-oils
Stress Management in Corona, California
If you feel like stress is controlling your life and would like to learn more about ways to manage and mitigate its effects, reach out to the team at Nurturing You Women’s Health and Wellness for more information. Call our offices to speak with a representative from our team or schedule a consultation online today!
