We’re living in stressful times, that much is evident! We’re worried about our health, the health of friends and family, worried about our employment and retirement future. To top it all off, many of us are living in close-quarters with our families and spending an unprecedented amount of time with them. Yes, this is a blessing! But we’re not going to deny the reality of thinning patience and the truth of the phrase, “familiarity breeds contempt.”
It’s tough out there. We’re all looking for some relief, some reprieve, from the stress of it all.
Unfortunately, many of us are turning to unhelpful ways of coping. These habits actually hurt your ability to reduce and manage stress!
If you want to stay in tip-top mental and emotional health, you have to practice good stress management habits. So, with that said, here are some habits you need to cut out, right now.
3 Behaviors Hurting Your Ability to Manage Stress
1) Pretending Everything is Normal
Nothing is normal. We live it, we see it, we know it. Perhaps as a defense mechanism, however, we have tried to act as if everything is normal. We act as if we can get the same things done we always did, do as we have always done, and be largely unaffected.
First things first: denial is never healthy.
Second of all, I don’t actually think we’re willingly denying the condition of the world. I think it has more to do with a need to keep up with societal standards of success and productivity. We feel we should be able to handle it all. We should be able to juggle being an at-home educator, a full-time employee, and a parent. We should be “stronger” than to be mentally or emotionally affected by virus fears and quarantine strains.
This is wrong.
Psychologists across the board have spoken out about things like allostatic load, the culprit between our isolation-induced brain fog, the tendency we have to hoard during a pandemic, as well as increasing reports of anxiety and depression (and subsequently, prescriptions to manage them).
I’m affected. You’re affected. The pressure to perform and succeed has not gone away even as we deal with these obstacles. Understand that your productivity does not define your worth.
2) Turning to Alcohol
In late March, we saw a 55 percent spike in alcohol sales. For many, alcohol is something to consume in a social setting or to “unwind” at the end of a hard day. For others, alcohol is coping. As a depressant, it helps us relax, feel less inhibited, and less concerned with stresses and troubles. Whatever high we get from drinking doesn’t last.
Drinking as a coping mechanism can quickly turn into dependency. This, in turn, damages our relationships, our immune systems, and our ability to healthily cope with stress. It’s okay to have a drink here or there — but we shouldn’t rely on alcohol to relax.
3) Impulse Shopping
As we find ourselves stressed and anxious, we look for a semblance of control. On top of it, we’re desperate for dopamine — those feel-good chemicals that create pleasure. Buying things releases dopamine. Many of us are falling into the trap of impulse-purchasing, either to feel better and relieve anxiety and depression, or to feel a sense of control over your money and, by extension, your life.
I’m not going to tell you not to buy anything. But what I will tell you is that habitually buying impulsively will lead to more stress in the end. This is because it will absolutely strain your finances. Finances are one of the biggest sources of stress and conflict between people.
While that purchase might make you feel good for a short while, you’ll find yourself regretting it when you check your bank account and feel the sting of necessary expenses. Give yourself, instead, a sense of security through saving and wise spending.
Coping with COVID is easier said than done. In some way or another, all of us are struggling. Instead of turning to shopping, alcohol, or your own need for success and control, allow yourself healthy outlets.
Get some exercise. Drink more water. Improve your sleeping habits. Spend quality time with your family. Care for yourself! Understand that these are not normal times, and we cannot expect them to be. Don’t let anyone tell you that you have “failed” because, during self-quarantine, you didn’t clean out the garage or learn a new language.
Instead, focus on that which truly brings stress relief and a sense of security — not just now, but for the future.
What are some positive stress management tactics you are using during self-quarantine? Share in the comments.