COVID-19: Managing stress and anger

Being away from our regular routines and the people we love can be hard. Lost income, crowded living spaces, violence, fear, uncertainty, and living with depression or other mental health problems can make it even harder. We will be living with these difficulties for a long time as we adjust to COVID-19, so it is important to find ways to help us manage.

Keep your body healthy. Eat nutritious foods, move your body, drink plenty of water and sleep the hours you normally do, or more if you need to. Think about the things you will need and plan how to get them. Avoid drugs and alcohol — usually they create more problems than they solve.

Find ways to connect with others. Call or text family and friends. Talk with neighbors. Connect with others on social media and online networks. Don’t be shy about reaching out — everyone is feeling off-balance and isolated, just like you.

Take actions to manage stress. Too much stress is bad for you physically and can lead to a lack of patience, anger and violence. Create routines that lessen the stress for you and your family. Praying, meditating, and deep breathing can help. So can activities like singing and dancing, writing and drawing, and walking and exercising. You can do them alone or with others at least once a day, or more often if you can.

Seek help. Pay attention to your feelings and seek help when problems seem too much to handle. Talk to trusted friends or family, or call a hotline (for a mental health emergency) or a warmline (if not an emergency) to speak with a person immediately, get support when you need it, and find ways of coping. If you were a member of a support group before COVID-19, try to find ways to continue it — either by meeting outside, at a safe distance, or using technology.

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