Steel Yourself for Stress
Stress is part of our lot as humans. And while we can’t always control what happens to us, we do have power over how we react and how we deal with the stress and worry.
When Stress Goes Bad
Some stress can be good for us. Just think of a time when pressure has motivated you to reach a goal or take a necessary step. There’s even some evidence that the stress hormone that kicks in when you’re injured or sense a threat may also help protect you from infection.
A lot of stress is harder to cope with, especially when we feel it’s out of our control. News of a natural disaster, a war, a bad accident or political uncertainty can make us feel sad or fearful for the future.
“Even though you may not be directly affected by the crisis, you may carry the stress of knowing that others are,” says Pedro Carbajal-Madrid, a licensed clinical social worker. Pedro and his team at SCAN Health Plan were in the community helping seniors cope during the devastating fires in Southern California.
“These kinds of events,” Pedro says, “can also create feelings of overwhelming and impending doom, that ‘It’s just a matter of time before it happens to me.’”
Changes that often come with growing older can create even more anxiety. A new health diagnosis or worsening symptoms. Adult children moving away. The loss of a loved one. Or the declines many older adults experience in vision, hearing or mobility.
“All these things together can create a constant sense of fear and anxiety,” Pedro says. “It becomes a perfect storm. This can lead to serious health problems, including depression, severe anxiety and physical complications.”
4 Ways to Prep for Stress
“We all face crises of different magnitudes in the course of our lives,” Pedro says. “There are steps you can take now to be better off when a crisis comes.”
Try these four techniques to ready yourself for stress:
- Be educated about your stress. Communicate regularly with your doctor or therapist about how you’re feeling. They can help you better understand your stress, including warning signs to look for and what to do when you experience them. They may also prescribe a medication that can help. Consider getting involved in programs that promote stress management and well-being. Even simple breathing and relaxation exercises can give you a sense of control when you feel you don’t have any.
- Be connected to a support network. “Isolation makes things a lot worse,” Pedro says. “Sharing with other people what you’re feeling is crucial to avoiding serious problems. This is especially true for older adults because we tend to become more socially isolated as we age.”
- Be selective with media exposure. Unless you are in clear danger, be careful about the amount of time you’re glued to the news on TV and other media. Watching the same dramatic images over and over is likely to make any stress you’re feeling even worse.
- Be good to yourself. Exercise and take part in activities you enjoy. Be mindful of what you put in your body—dealing with stress by overeating, drinking or smoking can make matters worse.
If you’re feeling fear, anger, sadness or hopelessness that won’t go away, reach out to your doctor, a therapist or someone who you can talk to for help right away.
Most of the plans offered by SCAN Health Plan include a Behavioral Telehealth benefit. This benefit covers virtual visits with mental health professionals. Find more information at doctorondemand.com/SCAN. There’s no cost for these virtual visits—and no referral is needed.
