Extreme stress, as with COVID, can create crisis and put us into emergency mode. This happens because our bodies naturally respond to stress as if it is an emergency. Our bodies are trying to protect us but do not distinguish between the danger of a wild animal attacking and other stressors.
Definition:
Stress—We tend to think of stress as being related to difficulties of life. The definition of stress reflects this as does the fact that it comes from the word distress. Stress also comes from the Middle English word stresse, which means hardship. This adds up to hardship that causes strain, anxiety, and suffering. Examples of tough times like this include:
Illness and serious injuries
Attacks or robberies
Being overwhelmed by work obligations
Not getting enough food or sleep
Loneliness or dealing with difficult people
Money and work problems
Life changes such as marriage, divorce, moving, and retirement
Losses such as deaths, relationships ending, and changes in lifestyle
Tell Me More:
Hardships create suffering for most of us and often cause even more difficulties over time as they lead to other stressful situations. Life changes and losses, like COVID. can be particularly troublesome because they are not only challenging but also require life style changes. With COVID, we have all our normal life stressors plus COVID stressors—fear of illness and death for us and our loved ones, loss of many social aspects of life, economic insecurity, isolation and boredom, among others. The escalating world problems add onto this stress as well.
Tip:
Find Ways To Cope That Work For You—Follow this blog for more information on stress, trauma and how to cope. Contact me or another psychotherapist if you need more support.