By Annette Pinder

April is National Stress Awareness Month, but stress should be something that we address daily. As we begin to recover from political unrest and violence, a shaky economy, and casualties due to the pandemic, 84 percent of U.S. adults believe our country has serious societal issues that need to be addressed.

A poll conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) reveals that 9 in 10 adults hope we become a more unified society. The average reported stress level was 5.6 on a scale from one to 10, and 84 percent of adults reported feeling prolonged stress in the prior two weeks. They reported feeling anxious (47 percent), sad (44 percent), and angry (39 percent).

“We can’t ignore the mental health consequences of this global shared experience,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, APA’s chief executive officer. Dr. Evans says addressing stress must be part of our national recovery plan, and Elizabeth Woike-Ganga, LCSW-R, President and Chief Executive Officer of BestSelf Behavioral Health, agrees.

The majority of adults reported the future of our nation (81 percent), the coronavirus pandemic (80 percent) and political unrest (74 percent) as significant sources of stress. Roughly 85 percent of all Americans reported emotions associated with stress, and shared similar concerns about the country regardless of their political affiliation.

Woike-Ganga recently offered the following evidence-based advice to help people manage their stress:

  • Take a break from the news and social media. Constantly exposing ourselves to negative information, images, and rhetoric maintains our stress at unhealthy levels.
  • Practice the rule of “three good things” and ask friends and family to do the same. The rule states that at the end of each day, reflect on three good things that happened — large or small. This helps decrease anxiety, counter depression, and build emotional resiliency.
  • Practice self-care in 15- or 30-minute increments throughout the day, such as taking a short walk, calling a friend, or watching a funny show. Parents should encourage or help their children to do the same.
  • Stay connected with friends and family to build emotional resiliency and support for one another.
  • Keep things in perspective. Reframe your thinking to reduce negative interpretations of day-to-day experiences and events.
  • Get the COVID vaccine when it is your turn. It will bring you relief knowing that we are on the road toward a lifestyle of connection with others, and resuming a more normal lifestyle.

Watch a video on managing stress during COVID featuring Elizabeth Woike-Ganga at https://youtu.be/_Ka5noj0jsM. It is important to know that you are not alone and that help is available. Call 716-884-0888 for an appointment to speak with a mental health counselor at BestSelf Behavioral Health and visit www.bestselfwny.org for additional information. Learn more about stress at www.stressinamerica.org.