The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our lives and society and created many problems worldwide. With these new changes and challenges in place, it is easy to become overwhelmed by stress and anxiety.
While social distancing has been necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, it can also leave people feeling isolated and disconnected. This feeling of isolation can contribute to stress and anxiety, but having coping mechanisms can significantly help. Your local family doctor in the RGV area has valuable tips to help you manage negative feelings related the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stress and anxiety can cause a wide range of complications. Some of these problems may include:
• Certain feelings like anger, sadness, being worried, or frustration
• The increase of bad habits like poor nutrition and alcohol, drug, or tobacco use
• Dramatic changes in your appetite and energy levels
• Difficulty sleeping or over-sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating
• Physical reactions like headaches, skin rashes, stomach problems, etc.
There are a few strategies that you can use to combat your COVID-19 stress and anxiety. However, if you’re facing severe symptoms that are beyond your control, including thoughts of suicide, please seek help immediately. You can reach out to a therapist, counselor, family doctor, or a trusted friend or loved one for help.
While it’s good to stay informed, constantly paying attention to the news and social media can significantly increase your stress and anxiety. There’s so much going on globally, and a pandemic can amplify issues even further. Knowing when to take a break and focus on something else is crucial.
Staying mainly indoors can easily cause you to slack on excercise–especially if you’ve transitioned to remote work. However, engaging in physical activity is also an excellent way to curb your stress and anxiety.
There are various ways to stay active. For some, this means going to the gym every day. For others, it may mean jogging around their neighborhoods, using free-weights at home, or engaging in a hobby like swimming or dancing.
Exercising is just one-half of the equation. The other half is to promote healthy eating. Today, it can be easy to order lunch from a delivery app. While there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself often, having a well-balanced and structured diet will promote a healthy lifestyle and feed your brain.
Another benefit of doing your cooking at home is that you can save money, burn some calories, and you may even learn some new cooking tips!
Most adults should aim to get around eight hours of sleep every night. To make this compatible with your schedule, try to sleep around the same time every night, and keep a scheduled time for waking up. While you don’t have to follow this precisely every night and morning, having a structured routine can help you get the right amount of sleep and bring a sense of normalcy and structure to your life.
It’s impossible to deny that COVID-19 has brought with it a certain level of unpredictability. However, while you might not be able to control the pandemic, it’s possible to change how you respond and handle your stress and anxiety.
It’s also crucial to know when you need additional help. That’s why making visits with your family doctor is essential. By visiting Healthy Lifestyles RGV Medical Clinic, you can better care about your health.
