We're still coping with covid19

DR CRYSTAL BENJAMIN

Months later and covid19 is still here, and some of us are not happy about it. Chronic stress is on the rise. Owing to the covid19 restrictions, families have experienced dramatic changes in their lifestyles.

Balancing a career and home schooling; experiencing a significant reduction in income/loss of income; recreation spaces like bars and restaurants are closed or have restricted services; the borders are closed so travelling plans have been cancelled indefinitely.

People are terrified of contracting the virus and spreading it to family members; people are frustrated by the fact that fellow residents are not following the public health regulations which puts the entire country at risk etc. In this article, I will share some of the common signs of stress and provide some recommendations for coping. Remember these stress management techniques only work if they are implemented consistently, even when you don’t feel like doing it.

Imagine Jill, a single mother of three with no family support who does not have the luxury of “working from home”. Every work day she has to choose between going to work or home-schooling her children. Then there is Thomas who can only operate his taxi at 50 per cent, which means his income is reduced while his expenses remained stable or increased. Essential workers attend work hoping that the people they interact with are responsible and will not show up to their workplace with flu-like symptoms or engage in risky behavior that may expose them to the virus. There are so many stories of people whose lives have been changed for months, which results in prolonged stress – chronic stress. It is important to note that stress can lead to physical illness and in extreme cases – death. I’ve read several stories of people experiencing headaches, hair loss, insomnia, stomach issues and other health concerns which medical doctors explained were as a result of stress. Below I will share some common signs of stress.

Signs of stress

• changes in sleep patterns

• changes in appetite

• weight gain/loss

• difficulty concentrating

• hopelessness

• withdrawal

• intrusive thoughts

• unexplained hair loss

• headaches

• impaired memory

• digestion issues

Stress-management techniques

Worrying about an uncertain future can lead to stress. Due to covid19 there are a lot of uncertainties about when and how life would be for the rest of 2020. One thing is for certain, we will need to learn to live with covid19 for a while. Below I will share a few tips for coping with stress. Note well, this list is not exhaustive but I have included simple tips you could implement immediately:

• Awareness – allowing ourselves to fully feel and experience our emotions could be difficult. We may feel uncomfortable and nervous but awareness is the first step to coping with fear. If we are able to identify the emotion, we are in a better position to manage that emotion and meet our inner needs.

• Limit traditional media/social media exposure – if you’ve noticed that reading about covid19 related deaths trigger a sense of hopelessness within you, I suggest that you limit your exposure. It is important for us to know our risks and be responsible as we do our part to stop the spread of covid19, but we do not need to go looking for the total number of deaths in the world daily. We also need to be wary of fake news and propaganda.

• Journaling – journaling serves as an outlet for our inner dialogues. Clients have reported that journaling helps them to share their thoughts and emotions without judgment. The journaling process helps to soothe painful emotions.

• Exercise – to be safe, before starting an exercise program, you should visit a physician for clearance. Your physician will provide guidance on your wellbeing and what type of exercise is appropriate. Generally, taking a walk in nature and going for a hike can be quite relaxing and soothing.

• Prayer and meditation – prayer and meditation, coupled with deep breathing can serve as a relaxation tool. It allows for you to focus your energy on the present and what is within your control versus worrying about what is outside of your control.

• Access social support – coping with stress can be more bearable when you are surrounded by people you trust. If you have friends and family that you trust, share with them your needs or how they could help you during this time. People cannot help if they do not know what you need. If you do not have support within your immediate circle, join a local NGO, professional group, social media group etc, meet new people who you can connect with. You can also access the support of a trained mental health professional if stress is affecting your work ability to concentrate.

• Learn something new. There are free courses available online on a variety of topics. COUSERA is a platform where you can enroll in prestigious schools from around the world and complete courses in a variety of topics at your own pace.

Stress is a silent killer. Having a high tolerance for stress should be avoided. Though you may not be aware that you are stressed, your body's working overtime to compensate for the chronic stress that you’ve been enduring. Just like a car, our bodies need regular maintenance. Regular maintenance includes stress-management techniques that are implemented consistently and regularly to ensure that you live an enriched life.

Dr Crystal Benjamin is an individual and couples therapist at Enriched Life Ltd. She provides counseling and coaching services to individuals, couples, and organisations. To learn more about her services, you can access a free consultation.

Email address – info@enrichedlifeltd.com

Phone number – (868) 757 – 9963

Website – www.enrichedlifeltd.com

Instagram: @dr.crystalbenjamin

Facebook: @DrCBenjamin