OUTBREAKS CAN BE STRESSFUL
The outbreak of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. And Self Distancing is not our normal way of life. Find ways you and your family can reduce stress.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST
Taking care of yourself is not selfish, you can't help those you care about if your stress levels are affecting your health. Check in with your friends, and your family  who can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger, but only if your stress levels are under control first.

WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS
You don't need daily updates about Covid 19: Take some breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. This includes social media. Hearing about the pandemic, which often includes conspiracy theories on social media, will heighten your anxiety and stress. The best way to find out what is really happening in your area is to check your local, provincial or federal websites. 

• Take care of your body. Try to have a regular bed time. Drink lots of water. 
• Keep your in home normal habits if you are having to stay home from work. Make your bed, get dressed, do your make-up (maybe just a bit, but something if you wore make-up before). 
• Close your eyes and take some deep breaths while slowly counting to 30. 
• Eat healthier meals, and keep your normal eating times. Eat the comfort foods you loved (not junk food though).
  • Exercise regularly, this could include a walk around the block or a bike ride. Find a great Youtube channel or app to keep you on track and outline a program to follow. Stretching exercises are a great way to keep your body moving and can reduce your stress levels. 
  • Reduce your Consumption of alcohol. 
  • Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy. If you can't get out, there are plenty of acclivities and learning programs on the internet. Pick up a hobby you've always wanted to try.  Read that book that's been sitting on the shelf so long. Get out in the garden, that can be very relaxing and take your mind off of things. 
  • Listen to your favourite music. Ditch the TV or while you are surfing the internet or working from home, tune into the music that inspires you most. When you are used to having people around you at work, the silence in your home will make you feel more lonely and stressed out. 
  • Watch a funny movie. There are loads of free ways to watch funny movies online too. Just Google them and find a link that works on your device. Laughter does reduce your stress levels. 
  • Find out how your favourtire stores and restaurants, services are providing you with what you need. Call your favourite local shops, sometimes if we know that things we love are still available, it makes us fee more assured that things will be all right again. 
  • Pick a room in your home that might need a little TLC. It could be just a new paint job, re-arranging the furniture or changing around the pictures on your walls.  There are also tons of DIY video's if you're not sure how to do something. 
  • Colour something. It's been mentioned before that colouring can reduce stress. There a plenty of adult colouring books with many designs available. Who know's you may even want to put one in a frame. This is true for kids too. There are Youtube videos that teach kids how to draw certain things, from basic to more advanced. You could draw along with them and make it a family thing. You could also mail one from your child to an elderly loved one. Seniors still love getting mail. They'll know they are not forgotten. 

Stress during the Covid 19 outbreak can include:

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
• Eating more or less than normal.
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
• Worsening of chronic health problems.
• Feeling more anxious.
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
• Fear about the future and what that will look like
• Worrying about, will this be our new normal?

WE ALL REACT DIFFERENTLY TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS

Pay attention to your family, friends and people in your community. How you respond to the pandemic can depend on your life experiences. Some people who tend to react more strongly to the stress are typically:

• Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Children and teens.
• Front line workers who are helping with the response to COVID-19.
• Some people with any type of mental health conditions.