What is stress?

Some people respond differently to stressful circumstances.

Your response to stress will depend on:

• The state of your family. For instance, caring for children or the elderly is more stressful than being by yourself.
• The state of your employment. When you are the breadwinner for the family, being unable to work is significantly more difficult.
• The state of the neighborhood.

Since everyone reacts differently depending on their own situation, you should not compare yourself to others or feel terrible if you feel more stressed than others. The situation is made significantly more stressful by crowded living conditions and lack of access to essential needs.

The following symptoms of stress might occur during trying times: 

• continuous dread and worry about your health and the health of your loved ones; 
• emotional disturbance most of the time; 
• nervousness or trembling inside.
• changes in eating or sleeping habits; 
• trouble concentrating; strained relationships; 
• a tendency to get angry or snap at others; 
• thoughts of suicide or self-harm; 
• worsening of long-term health issues;
• Increased consumption of alcohol, tobacco, or other substances; 
• depressive and melancholy emotions; 
• loss of interest in activities you would ordinarily enjoy; 
• loneliness or isolation; fatigue or sluggishness; 
• being unable to carry out routine tasks because of feelings of stress; 
• feeling weary or sluggish;
• responses that involve violence against oneself or others in the home or elsewhere;
• children and teens may also have more nightmares, be more agitated or violent, feel physical signs of stress like headaches and stomachaches, or become more dependent on their parents or guardians.

If you frequently feel terrible or are injuring yourself or other people as a result of one or more of these reactions, you should seek medical attention immediately. You must take steps to lessen your stress. You can use this list to regularly check in on your family, friends, and yourself. You should keep an eye out for any changes that might indicate you or someone you know needs to try the advice provided below or seek out extra support.