You survived COVID-19, now it’s time to tackle stress

According to the American Psychological Association, the prolonged stress of the year-long pandemic has inflicted a terrible toll on our mental and physical health. Here are the astounding findings from APA’s Stress in America March 2021 survey:

Stress: 67% of Americans report they’ve experienced a roller coaster of emotions during the pandemic. 47% say they’ve struggled to manage stress.

Weight Gain: 42% of adults put on weight — an average of 29 pounds! Typical undesired weight gain in this group has been 15 pounds. 10% of people gained more than 50 pounds.

Weight Loss: 18% of adults had an undesired decrease, losing an average of 26 pounds.

Sleep: 67% of Americans developed sleep problems. 35% sleep less than desired, and 31% sleep more.

Alcohol: 23% of respondents reported drinking more to cope with stress over the past year.

Physical health: 47% of people have delayed or canceled health care services.

Mental health: 84% of adults are experiencing pandemic stress-related emotions: 47% felt anxious, 44% were sad, and 39% had anger issues.

Parents: 62% of parents whose children were doing remote learning say their stress has increased. 48% of mothers reported worse mental health.

Millions of Americans will continue to struggle with the impact of stress long after COVID is under control. One in three Americans will suffer from mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

Over 550,000 families will be grieving a loved one lost to COVID. Millions of coronavirus survivors will have been traumatized by their near-death experiences. Physical problems such as obesity and sleep disturbance will plague people for years to come.

If you’re suffering from the ill-effects of stress, take action now. Recovery requires adopting new resilience-building behaviors. The APA report recommends a three-part strategy to overcome the impact of pandemic stress:

Unhealthy habits

„ Keep a journal to determine when you are overeating, making poor food choices, or drinking alcohol. Note the time of the day. Identify the stressors that occurred that day, including times you were bored. Knowing your triggers can help you recognize when you’re most at risk of making unhealthy choices.

„ Pay attention to how you feel after indulging in unhealthy behaviors. Eating poorly or having a few glasses of wine will undoubtedly make you feel better at night. But how are you doing the

next day? Be brutally honest in your journal about how much worse you feel the following day. Increasing awareness is the first step in making changes. Ask yourself what new behaviors you could try substituting to alleviate stress in the evening.

Behavior changes

„ Next, envision yourself trying out new behaviors you believe will change how you’re coping with stress. Imagine how you’ll feel after you’ve achieved a positive outcome. For example, if you want to eat less, picture yourself limiting how often and how many calories you’ll consume. See yourself looking good and feeling great.

„ To overcome the temptation to cheat, find an accountability buddy. You’re much more likely to stay on track if you tell a close friend or family member about your goals. Tell them the best way to help you

According to the American Psychological Association, the prolonged stress of the year-long pandemic has inflicted a terrible toll on our mental and physical health. Here are the astounding findings from APA’s Stress in America March 2021 survey. STOCK stay on track. Set up times for checking on your progress.

Manage weight

„ Many of us dealt with feeling stressed by eating comfort foods. The APA recommends that instead of trying to lose weight, start by trying to maintain your weight. Avoid overeating and engage in activities that make you feel good. The initial goal is to establish healthy eating habits.

„ On the other hand, if you’re concerned about having lost too much weight, create a routine for eating three meals a day. Eat close to the same time every day. Try setting an alarm to signal mealtimes or blocking off time in your calendar. If you have trouble deciding what to eat, get started by having the same breakfast and lunch every day to establish a routine.

„ Make every effort to get outside for a walk. Not only will it help you lose weight, but the sunlight will also boost your mood and help you to sleep better. If it’s too nasty to go outside, take a walk inside. Take the long way through your home by adding about 25 extra steps as you move from one area to another. Walk around your house while you’re on the phone. Take five-minute breaks for short walks during your workday.

You’ve survived COVID. Now it’s time to tackle stress. Make a plan and share it with your family.