Stress and Coping - Health Plan of San Joaquin

What is stress? How can you learn to cope?

Stress is part of everyone’s life. Stress means different things to different people. If not managed properly, stress can lead to illness, increased anxiety, or depression and mood swings.

Forms of stress may include:

Physical stressors: fever, pain, illness.
Environmental stressors: weather, noise, housing concerns, traffic.
Social and emotional stressors: concerns over money, a job, family demands, having to make a big decision, guilt, loss, and lifestyle change.

Coping with Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, too much, and cause strong feelings in adults and children. Public health actions, such as staying home, are needed to cut the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel lonely and can raise stress and worry.

Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.

Slow down and take a few soothing breaths

A video by Calm | Breathe Bubble

How Are You Feeling?

We are often asked this, and we say “fine.” Visit How Right now to explore how you really feel and ways to feel better.

5 Things You Should Know About Stress

Personality Change

Their personality changes. You may notice sudden or slow changes in the way that someone often acts. He or she may act in ways that don’t seem to fit the person’s values, or the person may just seem different.

Agitated

They seem uncharacteristically angry, nervous, or moody. You may notice the person has more frequent problems checking their temper and seems grouchy or not able to calm down. People in more dire times of this kind may be not able to sleep or may explode in anger at a minor problem.

Withdrawn

They withdraw or cut off themselves from other people. Someone who used to be socially engaged may pull away from family and friends and stop taking part in events he or she use to enjoy. In more severe cases the person may start failing to make it to work or school. Not to be confused with the actions of someone who is more withdrawn. This sign is marked by a change in someone’s normal sociability, as when someone pulls away from the social support he or she often has.

Poor Self-Care

They stop taking care of themselves and may take part in unsafe behavior. You may notice a change in the person’s level of personal care or an act of poor judgment on his or her part. They may let their bodily hygiene get worse. The person may start abusing alcohol or illicit substances. Maybe doing other self-destructive behavior that may turn away loved ones.

Gloom

They seem overcome with sorrow and overwhelmed by their turn of events. Have you noticed someone who used to be hopeful and now can’t find a thing to be positive about? That person may be troubled from drawn-out grief or feelings of worthlessness or guilt. People in this spot may say that the world would be better off without them. They can be suggesting wanting to die thinking.

Healthy Habits of Emotional Wellbeing

Take care

Take care of you. Eat, sleep and be active. We don’t often think about how vital these basic acts are to our mental health – but they are critical!

Check in

Get checkups. We get exams for our bodily health and for our teeth. It’s time to check in on our emotional well-being. Talk with a person you trust like a friend, family, doctor or therapist.

Engage

Engage and connect wisely. Pay mind to your relationships. We can’t be healthy if our bonds are not.

Relax

Be active, meditate, garden, dance, sing, cook, play with an animal.

Self-Compassion

We all mess up and can be harsh of our mistakes. None of us are perfect, but there’s no need to punish yourself for your mess ups.

HPSJ Services

HealthReach 24/7 Nurse Advice Line
Need to ask a question about your health? Call a nurse or doctor 24/7 at 800.655.8294 to speak with someone when you’re not feeling well.

Social Worker of the Day
Call to get resources if you need help to pay for food, rent, or other social needs that might be causing you stress. Call 209.942.6395 Monday to Friday 8 AM – 5 PM

Carelon
Your emotional well-being matters. If the stress you feeling is too much you always have access to therapists and other related experts. Call Carelon Behavioral Health (previously known as Beacon Health Options) 888.581.7526.

Case Management
A program that gives you care to meet your health needs with other chronic health issues. Our nurses work with you, your doctors, and the person taking care of you. To join you can call 209.942.6352.