Managing Stress

We can’t hide from it, right now is a very stressful time. It’s ok to feel this way, to feel anxiety about the future. So tips to help, is to first, make sure you follow your local government guidance. Stick to the facts that they provide, and avoid sensationalised headlines and media coverage. The best source of information is direct from the CDC and from WHO, in addition to your government briefings. 

Try these simple techniques if you start to feel overwhelmed: 

• Deep breathing. This means taking a long, slow breath in and very slowly breathing out. If you do this a few times and concentrate fully on breathing, you may find it quite relaxing. Some people find that moving from chest breathing to tummy (abdominal) breathing can be helpful. Sitting quietly, try putting one hand on your chest and the other on your tummy. You should aim to breathe quietly by moving your tummy, with your chest moving very little. This encourages the diaphragm to work efficiently and may help you avoid over-breathing. 
• Muscular tensing and stretching. Try twisting your neck around each way as far as it is comfortable and then relax. Try fully tensing your shoulder and back muscles for several seconds and then relax completely. 

For more guidance, you can visit – https://www.verywellmind.com/abdominal-breathing-2584115 

If that didn’t work for you, you can try the alternate method, you’ll find that a quick search online will generate many different methods and finding the right one for you is important. Here is one from the NHS UK. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/ways-relieve-stress/