Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain caused by adverse circumstances.

If stress is affecting your life, there are a lot of things you can try that may help you deal with the situation. You are not alone. Support is available if you are finding it hard to cope. At one point or another, most people deal with feelings of stress.  

Stress develops when you are feeling more pressure on you than what you can handle. Stress is quite natural and normal in itself; it is not a bad thing. It can be useful sometimes to help you get motivated but if it turns into distress then you will begin to suffer.

Listen to your emotions, feel them in your body. You may find it hard to focus, you may have less energy than usual. It is okay to have some ups and downs, but it is about recognising the signs when it is becoming too much. My mentor challenging situations used to say: “it is a normal behaviour in an abnormal situation”. 

Share your feelings, talk to people you trust. It can be quite comforting as people will support you and some may even have crossed the same path already. Do not keep these emotions to yourself, sharing them will make you feel lighter already.

Try to maintain a reasonably healthy lifestyle following a good diet and sleeping routine. Practising regular exercise and meditation will help you listen to your body and your mind. There are a lot of online videos or channels you can sign up to, for example:

• Practice Yoga with Adrienne - https://yogawithadriene.com
• Meditate with Tara Brach - https://www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditations

During those difficult times you may want to hide behind something, find a way to be relieved of those feelings. You must not fall into a vicious circle starting to drink or take drugs. It is true that alcohol can reduce stress, fears and help you to relax, but those temporarily healing methods will create more damage in the long run. You need to find a way to fly again, to grow your wings and not to have them cut off. Speak to someone you can trust and ask for help or find an online support group or therapist. Alternatively, you can create your own support group, yes, it is possible, I created one myself! Message me for more details about it if you are interested. Remember there are always people around that will be happy to help you. Try to eliminate the things that do not work for you.

In certain stressful situations such as the recent Covid-19 pandemic it is easy to feel overwhelmed and see your anxiety level increase. You can be angry, anxious, terrified and you will want to fight or run away. It can be difficult to think rationally but if you concentrate on the facts and apply some logical thinking it may already relieve some of the stress you are feeling. You may also want to limit the amount of time you spend watching the news or surfing the Internet as it may cause greater worry.  You may also want to take a break from some social medias which may feed your stress or anxiety. Understanding the cause will help you find your own solutions.

Research about all the precautions you can take to reduce the risk of falling ill. Follow the guidance in your country but maybe also in others. For example, consult the website of the World's Health Organisationhttps://www.who.int

Remember it will pass. Do not panic but do not ignore it. Seek support. You are not alone.