Covid19 and Stress and the Glass of Water in our New Norm!

As your read on think about the glass of water in our new norm in life. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, communities are looking to build the “next normal.” At the same time, we are individually and collectively dealing with tremendous loss and grief.

The experience of loss is one of the hardest things we can face. It may involve losing a loved one or a friend, a job, a routine, a hobby, or anything else that has left our lives. 

Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.

Stress can cause the following:

• Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
• Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
• Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
• Worsening of chronic health problems
• Worsening of mental health conditions
• Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances

It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stress in a glass of water, think about it! If I were to ask you How heavy is this glass of water? What would your answer be? 8 oz? Maybe 12 oz? Absolute weight doesn’t matter really. It depends on how long you hold it, just like stress.

Stress is like the glass of water in life. Stress and anxiety are like the glass of water. “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. " Think about them for a short time and everything is fine. Think about them for a longer period of time and they begin to feel uncomfortable.   If you hold it for an hour, you'll have an ache in your arm. If you hold it for a day, your arm will feel numb, it may feel paralyzed or it fall off (or so I'm told). In each case, the weight of the water doesn't change, but the longer it's held, the heavier it feels. Stress and anxiety are like the glass of water. What happens when we add more water? 

What if you fill the glass to the top? Things tend to get shaky. You have difficulty focusing and water spills out. Now you worry about the water that has spilled too. If someone is talking to you now you have difficulty paying attention and holding the glass still. You’ve also been taught that spilling is bad and you should be ashamed of yourself for letting those emotions, er I forgot water spill. So now you can’t focus, you feel shame and to top it off your arm hurts. You might just consider to put the damn glass down for a while. 

While it is down and feeling returns to your arm, you can clearly use your skills to deal with the task which caused you to hold the glass of water for so long. Most people choose to continue to hold the glass of water rather than put it down. Sometimes it can even be of help to release (spill) a bit of water. There is no shame in spilling a bit of H2O, after all it’s just water. “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. 

When you allow stress to interfere with your enjoyment or performance in sports or business, you are just waiting for your arm to fall off. Rather than be paralyzed, take action. This is in part what mental training is all about. Learning the skills of when to hold it up and when to just put the damn thing down.

Please be creative and experiment with these ideas and strategies. 

·        Accept that some anxiety and fear is normal

·        Seek credible information

·        Find a balance: Stay tuned in, but know when to take a breather

·        Bring an intentional mindset to unplugging

·        Deal with problems in a structured way

·        Remember that you are resilient and be careful with the "What ifs"Challenge worries and anxious thoughts

·        Decrease other stress

·        Practice relaxation and meditation 

·        Seek support

·        Be kind to yourself

·        Eat healthily

·        Avoid substance use – including smoking, vaping and alcohol

·        Moderate caffeine intake

·        Get proper rest and sleep

·        Stay active

I still can't cope. Now what?

Sometimes, even after trying to reduce our stress and anxiety, we may continue to struggle. If you still feel significant distress around COVID-19 and feel you are not coping well, you may need extra support from someone like your family doctor or a psychologist, psychotherapist, social worker or other health professional.  

Mental Health and Crisis

• If you are struggling to cope, there are many ways to get help. Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
• During times of extreme stress, people may have thoughts of suicide. Suicide is preventable and help is available. More about the risk of suicide, signs to watch for, and how to respond if you notice these signs in yourself or a friend or a loved one.

It is normal to feel anxious and afraid while we deal with the effects of this pandemic. We know this situation is stressful for everyone; people living with mental illness and addictions may be finding it especially difficult to cope. If you or someone you know is struggling, the resources on this site are here to support you. Remember: no matter where you are or what you’re going through, you don’t have to go through it alone.