Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Emotional Distress

1. Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Emotional Distress Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Emotional Distress Distress or a sense of stress is a possible outcome of a disaster or crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation that has left mankind in a state of absolute shock and despair. While distress as a symptom might be short-lived in most people, some, particularly children and teens, may experience them for weeks. There may be a time when such feelings start to affect their personal life and relationships with families and friends. The following signs may indicate underlying emotional distress: •Having low or no energy •Feeling hopeless or helpless •Eating or sleeping too little or too much •A continuous sense of worry or being guilty for no evident reason •Avoiding people and socializing •Experiencing unexplained pains and aches, such as persistent headaches or stomachaches •Increased drinking, smoking, or illicit drug use, even prescription medications •Suicidal or self-harming thoughts •Inability to cope with home or work life Risk Factors for Adults Adults are more prone to emotional distress owing to the multiple hats they have to wear as bread earners, first responders, and Responsibilities emergency overwhelm increasing susceptibility to distress. This is the reason, why adults need to be more vigilant about warning distress, which may include: survivors, caregivers. and situations them their the of signs

2. •Losing interest in daily activities •Fatigue •Feeling guilty, helpless, or hopeless •Avoiding family and friends •Difficulty eating •Crying spells or bursts of anger •Increased symptoms of physical exertion, including stomach pains or headaches Adults are also vulnerable to experiencing severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and emotional stress if they have a history of: •Psychological disorders or prolonged medical conditions •Traumas, including abuse, assault, severe accidents, combat, or rescue work •Surviving a disaster •Losing a loved one or a close friend to a disaster or illness There are Ways to Deal with Distress Emotional distress is a common problem. However, it should never be ignored as it can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Therefore, it is important to find ways to relieve or deal with it. The following ways suggested by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can help: Changing Lifestyle: Healthy lifestyle changes such as avoiding drugs and alcohol use, eating a nutritious diet, and regular exercising can help reduce stress and anxiety. Minimizing News Uptake: No matter how hard we try but we can’t resist some things, especially listening to negative news thanks to television, radio and the irresistible Internet. News may be a staple for some but in present times all news stories bring is stress and anxiety. Therefore people, who are prone to mental health problems, need to reduce their news uptake and instead use the time saved in activities that soothe their minds. Sleeping Well: Emotional distress, in the form of a disaster or turmoil, is generally associated with difficulty falling asleep. Mental problem or not, quality sleep is everybody’s need for a sound body and mind. Here are certain ground rules that you can follow before hitting the bed: •Avoid using cells phones or laptops at sleep time •Avoid alcohol or caffeine at least one hour before hitting the bed •Try listening to your favorite music or reading a book to calm your mind

3. Establishing and Maintaining a Healthy Routine: Eat your meals at regular times, sleep well, and spare time for rest and mental peace. Life is good, but only until our bodies are well. Exercise regularly because flexibility helps. Eat well as that’s where we get our power from. And of course, make sure you don’t get addicted to anything because that’s where problems start arising from. Taking Challenges Head-on: People experiencing panic attacks should not let the fear control them. It may be difficult in the beginning but once they realize that there is nothing wrong with their physical health, the panic attacks will pass without causing them any harm. Further, the people would be less bothered the next time they experience a panic attack. Continuing with what they are doing can help alleviate the symptoms. Practicing Breathing Exercises: Panic attacks tend to increase breathing. Trying breathing exercise in this situation can ease the symptoms. The following technique may be effective: Breathe in through your nose, slowly, deeply and gently, followed by breathing out slowly, deeply and gently through your mouth. As the heart rate gets normal, the person would start feeling better. Get professional help If distress fails to subside through the solutions discussed above, there might be a deeper reason. This can only be diagnosed professionally. Our mental health experts can help you identify your condition and suggest evidence-based treatment plan accordingly. Call our 24/7 helpline number (855) 653-8178 for 24/7 Mental Health Help. Alternatively, you can chat online with our experts for more information about mental health disorders, their symptoms and effective treatment programs. For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit: - - www.247m www.247mentalhealthhelpline.com entalhealthhelpline.com