Blog

« Return

Working Towards Stress Safety, Ways To Cope And Build Resilience!

Now, more than ever, safety is crucial both inside and outside the workplace.  Whether you are going into work or working from home, the COVID-19 pandemic has probably changed the way you work.   Workers might be facing a number of issues during the COVID-19 crisis that can have a big impact on both their physical and mental health.

The fear and anxiety about the unknown of infectious diseases or any kind of pandemic can be overwhelming, and workplace stress can lead to other physical and mental health issues as well. How you cope with these emotions and stress can affect your well-being, the well-being of the people you care about, your workplace, and your community. During this pandemic, it is critical that you recognize what stress looks like, take steps to build your resilience and manage job stress, and know where to go if you need help.

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause the following:

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones, your financial situation or job, or loss of support services you rely on.
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
• Worsening of chronic health problems.
• Worsening of mental health conditions.
• Increased use of tobacco and/or alcohol and other substances.

With all these potential added stressors in our lives interrupting our normal thought patterns and daily activities, I’d say that worker safety could easily become compromised.  Currently overexertion and bodily reaction account for 31.4% of all work related injuries, the highest of all categories at this time.  So it’s safe to say your mental health plays an important role with your overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency, all which are vitally important now more than ever. If you start to recognize the signs of stress, don’t fret there are coping strategies that can help build resiliency and reduce these feelings, such as the following:

• Taking breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can cause unsettled emotions.
• Making time to unwind. Try doing an activity you enjoy or practice relaxation techniques.
• Take care of your body by eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep and avoiding excessive alcohol and drug use.
• Take care of your emotional/mental health. Taking care of your emotional health will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family.
• Connect with others. While social distancing measures are in place, consider connecting online, by phone or mail. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
• Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services).
• Focus on the facts. There’s so much information floating around out there it can become overwhelming, so just focusing on the facts allows you to eliminate any additional stress or anxiety caused by having to filter through various resources all the time.

If your stress ever becomes too overwhelming, know that there is help available for you.  At Touchette Regional Hospital, our compassionate behavioral healthcare staff is available when you need us. Call our Intake Line at 618-332-4038 for additional support or click here to learn more about our behavioral health and wellness services.