LCSD COVID-19 Mental Health Awareness Volume I | Page 29
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COPING WITH STRESS DURING INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS
Know How To Relieve Stress
You can manage and alleviate your stress by
taking time to take care of yourself.
KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE:
YOUR BODY:
Having stomachaches or diarrhea
Having headaches and other pains
Losing your appetite or eating too much
Sweating or having chills
Getting tremors or muscle twitches
Being easily startled
YOUR EMOTIONS:
Being anxious or fearful
Feeling depressed
Feeling guilty
Feeling angry
Feeling heroic, euphoric, or invulnerable
Set limits on how much time you spend reading
or watching news about the outbreak. You will
want to stay up to date on news of the outbreak,
particularly if you have loved ones in places
where many people have gotten sick. But make
sure to take time away from the news to focus
on things in your life that are going well and that
you can control.
GET THE FACTS:
Find people and resources you can depend on
for accurate health information. Learn from them
about the outbreak and how you can protect
yourself against illness, if you are at risk. You may
turn to your family doctor, a state or local health
department, U.S. government agencies, or an
international organization. Check out the sidebar
on the next page for links to good sources of
information about infectious disease outbreaks.
KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY:
Eat healthy foods, and drink water.
Not caring about anything Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and
alcohol.
Feeling overwhelmed by sadness Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs.
YOUR THINKING: Get enough sleep and rest.
Having trouble remembering things Get physical exercise.
Feeling confused
Having trouble thinking clearly and
concentrating
Having difficulty making decisions
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