How to Cope with Stress During a Pandemic
Stress is a natural symptom of a pandemic. With COVID-19 having so many unknown factors, it’s difficult to manage your daily routine while staying healthy and responsible.
Stress during a pandemic can cause:
- Fear about you and your loved ones’ health
- Trouble sleeping through the night
- Mental health issues
- Change in eating patterns
- Financial worries
The important thing to remember is, you are not alone. Many people are feeling or enduring one or more of the listed results above from the pandemic. As you learn a new routine through these unprecedented times, you can adapt and become less stressed by following these five guidelines:
Know who to contact if you feel you or a loved one has COVID-19 symptoms. By having a plan ready, you can feel more at ease when you know who to call for help.
Take a break from watching the news or reading articles about COVID-19. While some information is helpful for you to learn, watching or reading about the pandemic 24/7 will only increase your stress because it’s all you are thinking about. It’s important for your health to take a break so your brain can relax. When you need to take a break, consider exercising, taking a nap, watching a movie or doing yoga.
Maintain your health by allowing your body to rest, eat nutritious food and exercise. If you are having trouble sleeping or maintaining an appetite, talk to your doctor but try to continue a normal routine. Keeping yourself healthy, now more than ever, is vital.
Be virtually social with others by emailing, talking on the phone, connecting on social media or however suits you best. It’s important to social distance during a pandemic, but with today’s technology, you can still connect with your loved ones and friends. By communicating with others, it lifts your spirits and helps you feel connected.
Schedule a video chat or telephone call with your doctor if you are experiencing sleeping problems, high anxiety or have COVID-19 symptoms. If you do not have a primary care provider, call MercyCare Find-a-Doc at (319) 369-4444 or visit www.mercycare.org/findadoc to learn about your available options.
