As the world entered into the era of Covid 19 epidemics since 2020, almost all countries are in a lockdown mood and this is affecting the global population in major countries, both economically and socially. Millions of people have lost their jobs and more are sitting back at home idle for months. People who are burdened with bank EMI’s are worried about how to pay them on time. The issues have created a lot of uncertainty in human mind about health, unemployment and economic crisis. This has resulted in development of huge mental depression and stress in the mind of people, both young and old at large.
In order to overcome the economic crisis and spent some quality time at home, many people shifted to playing online games in their mobile or laptop computer. These activities not only help to overcome the mental depression but also earn money if the gamer wins the session. The situation is more exciting for some who have regularly played the live casino games. They can participate in the games live and also enjoy the gaming moments to a great extent. To attract more players and make their gaming experience quite memorable, hundreds of new casino games are being launched in the market. Since most of the casino games are now being played online, the gamers must be particular about choosing the right online platform so that their money is not duped in the process.
The situation is similar in the US also where the country faced an election year, violence and political unrest. In addition to the above, there is an increasing death toll and a shaky economy. It has been found that most of the US adults are suffering from a high level of depression and it is increasing over time. In a recently conducted survey, it has been found that 84% of the US adults are suffering from a high level of depression, resulting in increase of stress.
The most common among them is the feelings related to sadness (44%), anger (39%) and anxiety (47%) and 67% of the Americans have said that they are suffering mixed emotion of the two feelings. People suffering from stress are much higher than those affected by corona. When asked about the reason for stress, 81% of Americans have said that they are worried about the future of the nation. About 74% Americans are worried about the political unrest that was prevailing in the country before election and a huge number, around 80% are stressed due to the corona virus epidemic.
The breach of US Capitol on January 6 was a source of significant amount of stress as the political system also pointed out that they are suffering from a high level of depression because of the incident. About 85% of the Democrats, 83% of the Independents and 83% of the Republicans have pointed out that they suffered from a high level of stress because of that incident.
How to manage stress:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive impact on our lives. Most of us are going through overwhelming emotional stress. Children are also suffering depression just like grownups. Though current situation demands social distancing in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but at the same time people feel isolated and lonely, this further increases stress and anxiety. It is important to cope with stress in a healthy manner so that you can make yourself as well as your loved ones become more resilient.
Stop watching daily news:
Take a break from the news channels, social media or if possible distant yourself from certain friends. Constant exposure to negative discussion, news sources and images increases our stress and anxiety levels.
Make a gratitude list:
If you shift your perspective to positive events in your life that can sometimes make huge difference.
Grab a pen and paper and note down all the things you feel happy and grateful for at present. It can be as effortless as appreciating the nice family or a friend you can talk to over the phone.
Appreciating small things we do have is an unfailing way to remove negative thoughts. And studies have shown people who constantly remind themselves about all the good things they have by practicing gratitude have stronger feelings of well-being.
Practice Deep breathing exercise:
Deep breathing has shown to offer instant relief. It clams your body and send a message to the brain to get relaxed. Inhale slowly through your nostrils and count to four. Then exhale through your mouth for a count of eight. There are various other methods to practice breathing exercises including Alternate Nostril Breathing, Mindful Diaphragmic Breathing etc. Choose which one you are most comfortable with and set your own pace that helps to relax your mind. If you count as you breathe, it will help you to maintain a steady pace and keep your mind focussed on breathing as well as the present moment. So if you stay mindful during breathing exercise it will be more effective to reduce stress and anxiety.
Chest, neck and shoulder stretch
Stress, anxiety, low moral support can cause neck, chest or shoulder pain. When you find tension and stress build in the neck, your muscles may feel tight or painful. Neck pain also gets spread to the shoulder. If you are suffering these symptoms due to psychological factors, a quick stretch can help you to release stress to a great extent. As the chest, neck and shoulders generally hold a lot of tension, you can some stretching exercises like Neck exercises, Shoulder to ear, Cross arm stretch, Forward bend, Butterfly Pose etc to quickly relax those muscles.
Since our normal living and daily routines have been disrupted due to Covid-19 pandemic, it’s natural for anyone to feel a little lost and anxious. Instead of binge-watching violent web series or news shows, try and stay active.
So next time when you encounter pain in the neck or shoulder region, and feeling regular bouts of anxiety or stress, just start performing these stretch exercises.
