Coping with Stress, Fear, and Anxiety During Coronavirus! -

Coping with Stress, Fear, and Anxiety During Coronaviruses Infections!

Coping with Stress

Understanding And Managing Your Anxiety And Stress During Coronavirus:

In recent weeks, news of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been at the forefront of many of our minds. For some, the news has increased anxiety and concern about personal risk. The first step in managing this type of anxiety is educating yourself. So, here we are going to talk about what the coronavirus is, signs of infection, How to deal with stress, fear, anxiety, and recommendations. Coping with Stress

COVID-19

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans. coronavirus

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

Standard recommendations to,

Prevent infection spread includes regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

The rapid spread of,

The virus that causes COVID-19 has sparked alarm worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, and many countries are grappling with a rise in confirmed cases. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising people to be prepared for disruptions to daily life that will be necessary if the coronavirus spreads within communities.

Managing Anxiety and Stress During Coronaviruses Infections:

What You Should Know:

When you hear, read, or watch news about an outbreak of an infectious disease such as Coronavirus, COVID-19, you may feel anxious and show signs of stress—even when the outbreak affects people far from where you live and you are at low or no risk of getting sick.

These signs of stress are normal, and maybe more likely or pronounced in people with loved ones in parts of the world affected by the outbreak. In the wake of an infectious disease outbreak, monitor your own physical and mental health. Know the signs of stress in yourself and your loved ones. Know how to relieve stress, and know when to get help. Coping with Stress

Know the Signs of Stress:

What follows are behavioral, physical, emotional, and cognitive responses that are all common signs of anxiety and stress. You may notice some of them after you learn about an infectious disease outbreak.

Your,

A. Behavior:

An increase in,

Your alcohol, tobacco use, or use of illegal drugs.
Irritability, outbursts of anger and frequent arguing.
Or a decrease in your energy and activity levels.
Having trouble relaxing or sleeping.
Crying frequently.
Worrying excessively.
Wanting to be alone most of the time.
Blaming other people for everything.
Having difficulty communicating or listening.
And having difficulty giving or accepting help.
Inability to feel pleasure or have fun.

B. Body:

Having stomachaches or diarrhea.
Also, having headaches and other pains.
Losing your appetite or eating too much.
Sweating or having chills.
Getting tremors or muscle twitches.
Being easily startled.

C. Emotions:

Feeling,

Depressed.
Guilty.
Angry.
Heroic, euphoric, or invulnerable.
Overwhelmed by sadness.
Being anxious or fearful.
Not caring about anything.

D. Thinking:

Having trouble,

Remembering things. Coping with Stress
Thinking clearly and concentrating.
Having difficulty making decisions.
Feeling confused.

How to Manage Anxiety about COVID-19 that becomes Overwhelming and Turns into Panic?

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:

Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
Children and teens.
People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders.
People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use.

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
Worsening of chronic health problems.
Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

Things you can do to support yourself:

Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy. Coping with Stress
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

Reduce stress in yourself and others:

Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful. When you share accurate information about COVID-19 you can help make people feel less stressed and allow you to connect with them.

Fact about Coronavirus:

Know the facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and help stop the spread of rumors.

1. Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity: Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 can cause people to avoid or reject others even though they are not at risk for spreading the virus.
2. For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to below. Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19.
3. Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.

4. There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

5. You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms:

Fever.
Cough.
Shortness of breath Seeks medical advice if you.
Develop symptoms AND.
Have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently been in an area with the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

Here’re steps to know How To Relieve Stress For Yourself And Others:

You can manage and alleviate your stress by taking the time to take care of yourself.

1. Keep things In Perspective:

Set limits on how much time you spend reading or watching the news about the outbreak. You will want to stay up to date on news of the outbreak, particularly if you have loved ones in places where many people have gotten sick. But make sure to take time away from the news to focus on things in your life that are going well and that you can control.

2. Stay Informed, Get The Facts:

Find people and resources you can depend on for accurate health information. Learn from them about the outbreak and how you can protect yourself against illness if you are at risk. You may turn to your family doctor, a state or local health department, U.S. government agencies, or an international organization.

Stick to trustworthy sources such as the CDC, the World Health Organization, and your local public health authorities.
Limit how often you check for updates. Constant monitoring of news and social media feeds can quickly turn compulsive and counterproductive—fueling anxiety rather than easing it. The limit is different for everyone, so pay attention to how you’re feeling and adjust accordingly.
Step away from media if you start feeling overwhelmed. If anxiety is an ongoing issue, consider limiting your media consumption to a specific time frame and time of day (e.g. thirty minutes each evening at 6 pm).
Ask someone reliable to share important updates. If you’d feel better-avoiding media entirely, ask someone you trust to pass along any major updates you need to know about.
Be careful what you share. Do your best to verify the information before passing it on.

3. Keep Yourself Healthy:

Eat healthy foods, and drink water.
Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol.
Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs.
Get enough sleep and rest.
And get physical exercise.

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4. Use Practical Ways to Relax:

Relax your body often by doing things that work for you—take deep breaths, stretch, meditate, wash your face and hands, or engage in pleasurable hobbies.
Pace yourself between stressful activities, and do a fun thing after a hard task.
Use time off to relax—eat a good meal, read, listen to music, take a bath, or talk to the family.
Talk about your feelings to loved ones and friends often.

5. Pay Attention to Your Body, Feelings, And Spirit:

Recognize and heed early warning signs of stress.
Recognize how your own past experiences affect your way of thinking and feeling about this event, and think of how you handled your thoughts, emotions, and behavior around past events.
Know that feeling stressed, depressed, guilty, or angry is common after an event like an infectious disease outbreak, even when it does not directly threaten you.
Connect with others who may be experiencing stress about the outbreak. Talk about your feelings about the outbreak, share reliable health information, and enjoy conversation unrelated to the outbreak, to remind yourself of the many important and positive things in your lives.
Take time to renew your spirit through meditation, prayer, or helping others in need.

Important Strategies For parents to Support them, Child:

Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children if they are better prepared. Coping with Stress Coping with Stress

Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include:

Excessive crying or irritation in younger children.
Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting).
Excessive worry or sadness.
Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits.
Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens.
Poor school performance or avoiding school.
Difficulty with attention and concentration.
Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.
Unexplained headaches or body pain.
Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

There are many things you can do to support your child:

Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope with you.
Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.

Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has been released from quarantine.

Things to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions For:

I. Responders:

Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions:

Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.
Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).
Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.
Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.
Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.
Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.

II. people who have been released from quarantine:

Being separated from others if a healthcare provider thinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19 can be stressful, even if you do not get sick. Everyone feels differently after coming out of quarantine. Some feelings include :

Mixed emotions, including relief after quarantine
Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
Stress from the experience of monitoring yourself or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious
Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during the quarantine
Other emotional or mental health changes

III. Tips to Reduce Workplace Anxiety Around Coronavirus:

knowledge: Given the huge amount of misinformation that can exist on the internet, workplaces can serve an important role in terms of providing reliable information to employees, from trusted sources.
Educate your work team on coronavirus: what it is, what the signs and symptoms are, as well as what the actual calculated risks are. always use the World Health Organization – cdc.gov as references.
Ensure employees are aware of preventative protocols and the importance of seeking medical attention if they get sick.

Provide access to preventative measures within your work environment – including hand-washing stations, tissues, and hand sanitizers.
Be thoughtful about the need for work-related travel, and associated locations to which employees are being asked to travel to.
Encourage workers to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms. Whenever possible, try to be accommodating to those who may be able to work remotely.
Provide accommodations to employees to the point of undue hardship.

If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.

Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment for any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

References

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html – https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/coronavirus- http://www.myworkplacehealth.com – https://www.samhsa.gov/