Are you feeling stressed? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Everyone feels stressed sometimes because life is stressful. So what is stress exactly? Stress is a mind-body response to a real or perceived threat, event, or change in your life, which manifests through physical sensations, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This event or threatening situation is known as a stressor and can be internal like negative self-talk, perfectionism, an all or nothing attitude, or external such as job responsibilities, loss, finances, major life events/transitions, or relationships. The stressor can be a one time occurrence, or it can be ongoing such as a chronic illness or the COVID-19 pandemic.

With vaccines readily available, and restaurants, theaters, and sports arenas beginning to re-open at 100% capacity, we are approaching re-entry into a somewhat “normal” society again. While some might be ready to get back to their old way of life, others might feel anxious about this shift. It is completely normal to feel some anxiety about this change, as many of us have become accustomed to pandemic living. Here are 5 tips to help you cope.