The Shadow
As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, taking the time to learn to cope with stress in a healthy way will help you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.
While we have enjoyed several months of declining cases since the January peak of the Omicron surge, we now appear to be in the early days of another surge as cases caused by new variants rise. We are keeping an eye on this uptick in cases and hospitalizations, and cautiously optimistic that this wave will be less serious than the prior surges. Still, as surges come and go, they contribute to feelings of stress across the community. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, during the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the United States reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, up from 1 in 10 adults who reported these symptoms in 2019.*
The signs of stress are normal, and may be more likely or pronounced in people directly affected by, or who have loved ones who have been affected by the outbreak. If you are experiencing overwhelming feelings of anxiety or depression, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Know the signs of stress in yourself and your loved ones, learn how to relieve stress, and recognize when to get help.
Signs of stress may include:
Being anxious or fearful
Feeling depressed
Feeling guilty
Feeling angry
Feeling heroic, euphoric, or invulnerable
Not caring about anything
Feeling overwhelmed by sadness
Most importantly, at any time, in any situation, if you feel you may hurt yourself or others, get help immediately.
Ways to manage or relieve stress: Take time to take care of yourself. Consider these tips from the National Council for Mental Well-being to take care of your mental health as COVID-19 surges come and go:
Setting limits on how much time you spend reading or watching news
Staying up-to-date on where to find current guidance, such as the VDH or CDC website
Focusing on things in your life that are going well and that you can control
Eating healthfully can keep your body in good working order and decrease stress
Exercising has been proven to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
Going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each morning, including on the weekends, can help you sleep better
Tensing and relaxing muscle groups can help you relax voluntarily when feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious
Letting light in can help! Increased exposure to light can improve symptoms of depression. Open the shades and let more sunlight in.
Being kind to yourself can work wonders! Treat yourself with the same compassion you would show a friend.
Staying connected can help decrease loneliness. If you’re feeling lonely, sad or anxious, reach out to friends, family and neighbors with calls, texts, video chats and social media. Share what you are feeling and offer to listen to friends or family members about their feelings.
Self-care doesn’t require you to go outside or spend a lot of money. Adding small changes to your routine can make a big difference to your overall mood and well-being.
You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA to 741741 to talk to a Crisis Text Line counselor.
Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are, by nature isolating. Over the past 2 ½ years, we have seen these conditions increase dramatically as yet one more consequence of this devastating pandemic. We encourage everyone to stay connected as part of your wellness plan for yourself and your loved ones.
*https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/
