Healthy Ways of Coping with Stress
You first
need to recognize that feeling emotional and nervous or having trouble sleeping
and eating can all be normal reactions to stress. Below are some healthy ways
you can deal with stress:
·
Take
breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media.
It’s good to be informed but hearing about the traumatic event constantly can
be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a couple of times a day and
disconnecting from phone, tv, and computer screens for a while.
·
Take
care of yourself. Eat
healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and give yourself a break if you feel
stressed out.
·
Take
care of your body.
·
Take
deep breaths, stretch, or meditateexternal icon.
·
Try
to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
·
Exercise
regularly.
·
Get
plenty of sleep.
·
Avoid excessive
alcohol, tobacco, and substance use.
·
Continue
with routine preventive measures (such as vaccinations, cancer screenings,
etc.) as recommended by your healthcare provider.
Ø
Try
to do some other activities you enjoy.
Ø
Share
your problems and how you are feeling and coping with a parent, friend,
counselor, doctor, or pastor.
Ø
Talk
with people you trust about your concerns and how you are
feeling.
Ø
If
social distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social
media, or by phone or mail.
Ø
These
may seem to help, but they can create additional problems and increase the
stress you are already feeling.
Ø
If
problems continue or you are thinking about suicide, talk to a psychologist,
social worker, or professional counselor.
Helping Others Cope
Taking
care of yourself can better equip you with skills on how to take care of
others. During times of social distancing, it is especially important to stay
connected with your friends and family. Helping others cope with stress through
phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely or
isolated.
Helping Children and Youth Cope with
Stress
Statistics
show that children and youth often struggle with how to cope with stress. Youth
can be particularly overwhelmed when their stress is connected to a traumatic
event—like a natural disaster, family loss, school shootings, or community
violence. Sometimes it can be as simple as the peer pressure that they get from
their environment. Parents, caregivers, and educators can take steps to provide
stability and support that help young people feel better. The most important
thing to do here is to be constantly in communication with a young one. They
might not easily open up but during the conversation, you will be able to
identify a few things that might assist you assist them.
Some More Tips
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Regulation. It is
natural for children to worry when scary or stressful events happen in their
lives. Talking to your children about these events can help put frightening
information into a more balanced setting. Monitor what children see and hear
about stressful events happening in their lives. Here are some suggestions to
help children cope:
Ø
Maintain
a normal routine. Helping
children wake up, go to sleep, and eat meals at regular times provide them a
sense of stability and comfort.
Ø
Talk,
listen, and encourage expression. Listen
to your child’s thoughts and feelings and share some of yours. After a
traumatic event, it is important for children to feel they can share their
feelings and that you understand their fears and worries.
Ø
Watch
and listen. Be
alert for any change in behavior. Any changes in behavior may be signs that
your child is having trouble and may need support.
Ø
Stressful
events can challenge a child’s sense of safety and security. Reassure
your child about his or her safety and well-being. Discuss ways that you,
the school, and the community are taking steps to keep them safe.
Ø
Connect
with others. Talk
to other parents and your child’s teachers about ways to help your child cope.
It is often helpful for parents, schools, and health professionals to work
together for the well-being of all children in stressful times.
Tips for Kids and Teens
After a traumatic event, it is normal to feel anxious about your safety and
security. Even if you were not directly involved, you may worry about whether
this type of event may someday affect you. Check out the tips below for some
ideas to help deal with these fears.
Ø
Talk
to and stay connected to others. Talking
with someone you trust can help you make sense out of your experience. If you
are not sure where to turn, call your local crisis intervention center or a
national hotline.
Ø
Take
care of yourself. Try
to get plenty of sleep, eat right, exercise, and keep a normal routine.
Ø
Take
information breaks. Pictures
and stories about a disaster can increase worry and other stressful feelings.
Taking breaks from the news, Internet, and conversations about the disaster can
help calm you down.
Ø
Tips
for School Personnel
School personnel
can help their students restore their sense of safety by talking with the
children about their fears. Other tips for school personnel include:
Ø
Reach
out and talk. Create
opportunities to have students talk, but do not force them. You can be a model
by sharing some of your own thoughts as well as correct misinformation.
Ø
Watch
and listen. Be
alert for any change in behavior. Are students withdrawing from friends? Acting
out? These changes may be early signs that a student is struggling and needs
extra support from the school and family.
Ø
Maintain
normal routines. A
regular classroom and school schedule can provide a sense of stability and
safety. Encourage students to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular
activities but do not push them if they seem overwhelmed.
Ø
Take
care of yourself. You
are better able to support your students if you are healthy, coping and taking
care of yourself first. Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and give
yourself a break if you feel stressed out.
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Reference; https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/copingwith-stresstips.html
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