STRESS GENERATED BY THE PANDEMIC

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. OBJECTIVES
3. PROBLEM STATEMENT
4. CONTENTS:
a. ¿What is stress?
b. Analysis of the pandemic in Colombia
c. The stress of the pandemic in children (Testimonials in video)
d. Main health problems caused by the pandemic.
e. Keeping stress under control
5. CONCLUSIONS

1. INTRODUCTION
Throughout the pandemic there have been a number of emotions that lead people to
a constant emotional instability, which harms not only their mental health but also
their physical health, to the point of having to be admitted to mental health clinics.
In particular we focus on the stress that has been generated. This stress is not only to
lose calm in front of situations, but also to carry a constant load, perhaps anger,
fights with others, and a saturation that leads people to get sick and to block all the
good emotions and makes the person move to a cloud of negative emotions that
affect everything that each person does, his work, his study, his personal life in
general, his daily life. That is why, according to many studies, the pandemic is
generating more complicated health problems than the virus, such as stress and from
this many more problems such as anxiety, fear, uncertainty is derived. This is why it
is necessary to have an emotional balance in the midst of these times, take time
where that stress can be released, do not watch so many news that overwhelm
people, exercise, share with family or simply do activities that release those
negative emotions such as stress. Although stress is not always negative, in the
midst of this problematic world situation, it has been generated as a negative stress
and not positive.

2. OBJECTIVES
1. To understand what stress is and how it can be presented.
2. To explain the situation that arises in the health of people due to stress derived from the
pandemic.
3. To give a general idea of how to maintain a balance to avoid falling into a traumatic stress that
affects the continuous emotions of people or that generates instability in them.

3. PROBLEM STATEMENT
How has stress affected people in the midst of the pandemic and what could be done to
avoid such situations in all circumstances?
4. CONTENTS

A. ¿WHAT IS STRESS?
Stress is one of the most common diseases in the lives of people of all age ranges as each
person faces different situations in their day-to-day lives, which is why it presents itself in
very different ways depending on the context. of the situation in which the person is.
Stress can be defined as a set of physiological reactions that occur when a person suffers a
state of nervous tension, the product of various situations in the workplace or personal:
overwork, anxiety, traumatic situations that have been experienced, etc. Stress can be
defined as a set of physiological reactions that occur when a person suffers a state of
nervous tension as a result of various situations in the work or personal environment:
overwork, anxiety, traumatic situations that have occurred, etc.
There are several types of stress:
· Normal stress: the physiological reactions that occur in our body in certain
situations and that are defined as stress are actually normal, to a certain extent. A
little stress and anxiety can help us to face and overcome some difficult situations.
· Pathological stress: when stress is present in an intense way for prolonged periods,
it is very likely to cause physical and psychological problems, becoming a chronic
and harmful stress that can cause crying spells, depression, and various physical
ailments.
· Post-traumatic stress: this is the stress that occurs after a person has experienced
some kind of terrifying event, such as a traffic accident or natural disaster. As a
result of these traumas, the person often has frightening thoughts related to the
situation he or she experienced. This type of stress can occur in people of all ages,
but children are particularly prone to it.
· Job stress: Job stress is the name given to a set of harmful emotional and physical
reactions that occur when demands in the workplace exceed the resources,
capabilities and/or needs of the worker. According to a study carried out by the
WHO, 28% of European workers suffer from occupational stress, and 20% suffer
from the syndrome called "burnout".
· Academic Stress: Academic stress is a systemic process, of an adaptive and
essentially psychological nature, which occurs a) when the student is subjected, in
school contexts, to a series of demands that, under the student's own assessment are
considered stressors (input); b) when these stressors cause a systemic imbalance
(stressful situation) that manifests itself in a series of symptoms (indicators of the
imbalance); and c) when this imbalance forces the student to perform coping actions
(output) to restore the systemic balance.
Phases of stress:
Stress, like other disorders, goes through several phases that can manifest themselves
physically in mild or severe forms:
1. The alarm reaction
This is the immediate response to an occupational threat or challenge. This causes the
nervous system to provoke a stress response. This leads to affect mood, regulation of the
cardiovascular system, breathing, muscle tension and motor activities.
Symptoms of this phase can be: palpitations, rapid breathing, gasping, muscle tension
(especially in the back, neck and shoulders), dry throat, nausea and anxiety.
2. Resistance phase
In this phase a coping strategy and a way of dealing with the situation that the stressor has
initiated is developed. Reaction mechanisms can be both adequate and inadequate.
People tend to prefer short-term mitigation of their problems to long-term solutions and try
to escape unfavorable situations with a quick fix. But it is necessary to identify measures
that can lead not only to an immediate solution, but to long-term benefit.
3. Exhaustion phase
When the loads required on the body and mind are too high or cannot be solved properly,
the person becomes "exhausted". Prolonged stress leads to chronic problems and the
depletion of all reserves and energies can be the trigger for a generalized depression.
In turn, the symptoms of the exhaustion phase can be divided into three aspects: physical,
emotional, and mental:
 Physical disorders: Tension headaches, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome,
decreased resistance to illness (colds and other "viral" ailments), increased asthma,
dermatitis, psoriasis, back pain, gastritis, high blood pressure. These symptoms are
often accompanied by a general feeling of tiredness, lack of energy and weakness.
Sleeping habits tend to be modified and weight gain or loss caused by changes in
eating habits is common.
 Emotional disorders: The most frequent are depression, anxiety syndrome and
even suicidal ideas. These disorders may manifest outwardly as uncontrolled crying,
lack of interest in friends, hobbies or family and indifference to personal aspects
such as exercise, clothing and food. The development of this phase leads to a
decrease in performance and a loss of self-esteem, as well as a negative attitude
towards work and study.
 Symptoms of mental dysfunction: They can be accidents or near-accidents,
difficulty in concentrating, constant delays, absenteeism, increased errors and
excuses, sudden loss of memory of things close in time.
B. ANALYSIS OF THE PANDEMIC IN COLOMBIA
 The pandemic has been one of the factors that has most attacked people regarding stress,
since although the disease itself is dangerous, take precautions, live pending the measures
adopted by the government and avoid contagion of yourself and family members It causes
fear and therefore the stress of doing everything to the letter and not going crazy trying to
endure the confinement. But before getting into the subject and the particular situation, it is
important to know a little more about stress in particular or in general terms.
In this context, "anxiety and fear are the first reactions, but then comes uncertainty and
many other feelings", explains Clínica Alemana psychologist Jaime Silva.
In a phenomenon such as a pandemic, the effects on people will be different and will
depend, for example, on the moment in which each person finds himself in his life
trajectory. In this sense, the specialist warns that there are those who are more sensitive to
stress.
In this group are children and adolescents, people with mental health disorders or those,
such as health personnel, who are under strong pressure.
Likewise, the reaction that each one has can take different forms, but it is important to
know that in episodes of stress there is a subjective response that, in general, takes the form
of an emotion.
"It can be experienced, for example, as anxiety, but also as sadness, anguish, anger.
Although stress is a condition that we can all be faced with, there is a physiological
reactivity to the threat that will generate an emotional state that can take many forms," the
specialist explains.
And not only as emotions, but also as a state of mind. Thus, when there is a negative mood,
the whole perception of reality will be biased, but the person will not necessarily be aware
of it.
The mental health of the general population and certain vulnerable population groups may
be significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of higher levels of stress.
Being an adolescent is difficult under any circumstances, even more so during this
contingency period. This is due to the closing of schools - with no physical participation in
classes - the cancellation of public activities, and the prohibition of everyday experiences
such as chatting and interacting directly with friends; it can be said that many adolescents
missed out on some of the most beautiful moments of their youth. Psychologists recognize
that anxiety is a normal and healthy function that alerts the individual to dangers, and helps
him or her to take measures for self-protection and for the preservation of others. (12) For
such reasons, the anxiety provoked by the behavior and increasing development of this
pandemic is understandable.
The formal education of young people has been greatly affected by the effects of the
pandemic. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), 107 countries have implemented nationwide school closures, a
situation that has affected more than 861,000,000 children and young people. Young people
are also affected by the closure of opportunities for informal education, which prevents
them from socializing with their peers and educators. It is evident that prolonged periods of
school closures and restricted movement can translate into emotional distress and additional
anxieties.
Older people, especially if they are isolated and have some cognitive impairment or
dementia, may become: more anxious, angry, stressed, agitated and withdrawn during the
outbreak or while in quarantine. These individuals should be provided with practical and
emotional support from family members, caregivers, and health care professionals. They
should also be given simple facts about what is happening and clear information about how
to reduce the risk of infection, in words that people with or without cognitive impairment
can understand.
C. THE STRESS OF THE PANDEMIC IN CHILDREN
The pandemic has also had an impact on the behavior of the youngest children, since they
are accustomed to following a schedule like all of us, which is necessary for their learning
since their interaction with their peers in person helps them to develop their intellectual and
motor skills. If they don’t comply with this schedule, part of their growth and development
comes from stimulating their abilities through outdoor activities, interacting with nature,
their families and other elements of the environment, and limiting themselves to watching
their classes or doing other activities through a screen or in the confinement of their homes.
That is why they have presented stress problems and responding correctly to their classes is
boring, restless, uncreative and ineffective. Here are some testimonials:

D. MAIN HEALTH PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.

Effects of Covid
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge effect on our lives. Many of us face challenges
that can be stressful, overwhelming, and provoke strong emotions in adults and children.
Public health measures, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of
COVID-19, but they can leave us feeling isolated and increase stress and anxiety. Learning
to cope with stress in a healthy way will help you, your loved ones, and the people with
whom you are in contact to develop greater resilience.
Stress can cause the following:
-Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness or frustration
-Changes in appetite, energy levels, desires and interests
-Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
-Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
-Physical reactions such as headaches, body aches, stomach problems and rash
-A gravitation of chronic health problems
-A gravitation of mental health problems
-Increased consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other substances
E. KEEPING STRESS UNDER CONTROL

Healthy alternatives to cope with stress:

-Take breaks and stop watching, reading or listening to the news. This includes social
media. It's okay to be informed, but constantly hearing news about the pandemic can be
distressing. Consider limiting watching the news to just a few times a day and
disconnecting from phone, television, and computer screens for a while.
-Take care of your body.
-Take deep breaths, stretching exercises, or meditation external icon.
-Try to eat healthy foods and well-balanced meals.
-Get regular exercise.
-Sleep well.
-Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco and substance use.
-Keep taking routine preventive measures (such as vaccinations, cancer screenings, etc.) as
recommended by your healthcare provider.
-Get vaccinated against COVID-19 when the vaccine is available.
-Make time to relax. Try to do other activities that you enjoy.
-Communicate with other people. Talk to an external icon you trust about your concerns
and how you feel.
-Connect with your faith and community organizations. As long as social distancing is in
order, try to connect with loved ones online, through social media, or by phone or mail.
Keeping stress under control
Below, you will find recommendations that can help you keep stress under control:
Make sure you don't overload yourself with activities. If you feel you have to overexert
yourself, consider removing one or two activities, and choose only the ones you consider
most important.
Be realistic. Don't try to be perfect. No one is. Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself.
If you need help with school work or coping with a loss, ask for it.
Get a good night's rest. Getting enough sleep helps keep your body and mind in shape, and
this will make you better equipped to deal with any negative stressors. As the biological
"clock" shifts during adolescence, many teens prefer to stay up later and get a little more
sleep in the morning. But if you stay up late and have to get up early for school, you may
not get all the sleep you need.
Learn to relax. The body's natural antidote to stress is called the relaxation response. It is
the opposite of stress and is a feeling of calm and well-being. You can activate the
relaxation response simply by relaxing. Learn and practice simple breathing exercises, then
use them when faced with stressful situations.
Make time for fun. Set aside time in your schedule for activities you enjoy: reading a good
book, playing with your pet, laughing, pursuing a hobby, engaging in art or music,
spending time with positive people or enjoying nature.
Treat your body well. Exercise regularly and eat well to help your body function properly.
When you're stressed, it's easy to eat on the run or eat junk food. But it's especially in
stressful situations that you need good nutrition.
Look on the bright side. Your outlook, your thoughts and your attitude change the way you
see things. Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? A healthy dose of optimism can
help you make the best of stressful circumstances and even help you recognize something
you've learned from the situation.
Solve small problems. Take action to solve your problems. For example, if you're stressed
about homework, face the situation and think about how you could handle it better.
Build positive relationships. Knowing that there are people who believe in us improves our
ability to cope with challenges. Ask for help and support when you need it. Share what you
are going through; including the positive things that are happening.
Now we have a video in which doctors answer viewer questions about mental health during
the COVID-19 pandemic, including what could be causing sleep issues.
Managing anxiety, stress and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic
5. CONCLUSIONS

 Stress was very present in the pandemic, students frustrated by virtual classes,
workers overwhelmed with telecommuting, anxious children unable to go out.
 Stress is something very present in our lives but fortunately it is something that can
be controlled before reaching a point of collapse.
 There are many sources of professional support to treat this condition in cases
where it gets out of control and at home through exercises such as meditation and
breathing when it is mild.
 It is about learning to deal with it because the more we move in a world that seeks
renewal, the more demanding and diverse will be the activities in the day to day so
it is important to know oneself and learn when there is a limit and should require
help or if on the contrary can be self-controlled.

THANK YOU