Stress Management Support Group
Stress management defines stress as a person's physiological response to an external stimulus that triggers the "fight-or-flight" reaction.Stress can be overwhelming. This community is for best practices in stress management.
This coronavirus scare has caused me a great deal of stress and anxiety - as I'm sure it has for many others. It isn't so much the virus I'm stressed about. It's the economic impact. I work in the hospitality industry. Many people in our industry are being laid off while restaurants and bars are shut down and travel is restricted. I haven't been laid off yet, but I feel it is just a matter of time.
I have a habit of catastrophizing everything. I worry about what would happen if I were laid off. How long could we survive on our meager savings and government benefits? Would I be able to find other work?
Even worse, I worry about what it says about me. I realize that it doesn't really say anything. I didn't do anything to cause the situation - and neither did my company or our industry. Still, there is a voice in my head that says I'm failing my family. I hear my parents voices in my head saying that people on unemployment are taking advantage of the system. I know this isn't true even in the best of times - and that this is a unique situation - but it is hard for me to unwire what I learned in my youth.
We have a small family business (plumbing and heating) and are waiting to hear today if the government is shutting us down. They might as well as companies have cancelled all projects, and the phone did not ring once yesterday....
It has been a very hard week as others share their stress and deep sadness of having to lay off their staff...we actually care about them and feel a deep sense of responsibility for their families....I know it takes a lot for most men to cry....and I’ve heard/seen too many this week.
I’m trying to take a “bigger picture” view of the whole thing and not beat myself up for what is happening...
if we have to accept government help until we get control of this virus, so be it.
Tell the voice in your head most of us are in the same boat and you have no room for “guilt”....we need help to survive as a society....
We can stay strong together, we will get through this,