Pandemic-Related Stress Levels Persist
Wise & Well Weekly: The newsletter helping you make tomorrow a little better than today
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness, with science-backed insights you can use to improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being. You’ll find our usual list of compelling and actionable new stories below. But first…
We may wish to think of the Covid-19 pandemic as over, but stress levels that rose after 2019 remain high — among all but the oldest Americans, and especially among younger people — a new survey finds. People were asked to rate their stress level on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being “a great deal of stress.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic created a collective experience among Americans. While the early pandemic lockdowns may seem like the distant past, the aftermath remains,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, APA’s chief executive officer. “We cannot ignore the fact that we have been significantly changed by the loss of more than one million Americans, as well as the shift in our workplaces, school systems and culture at large. To move toward post-traumatic growth, we must first identify and understand the psychological wounds that remain.”
Stress, I like to remind myself and others, is not something that happens to us. It is our reaction to events, circumstances and thoughts. And if left untreated, it affects everything from mood to sleep quality to overall physical and mental health.
If you’re feeling more stress or anxiety than in the past, there are numerous helpful tactics to draw from in developing a solid stress-reduction strategy. The list is long, and the right solution will be different for each individual. Identifying the source of stress is Step 1. Learning to say “no” can help a lot. And seeking more physical activity, more time outside, and better sleep are three great long-term tactics to adopt (and they all work nicely together to complement each other and improve mood).
But the full list of tactics is looooong. Here are two deep dives where you can learn more:
HEALTHY READING
A selection of this week’s informative and insightful Wise & Well articles:
Vegetarianism or Meat-Craving Could Be Genetic
Vegetarianism is a smart choice for good health, and this scientist/writer knows he should lean into plant-based food. But, you know, a good burger! Anyway, new research suggests human carnivores may have different genetics than strict vegetarians.
— By Sam Westreich, PhD
How Much Community Do We Actually Need?
As we age, our interest in other human beings declines somewhat, one theory goes. We tend to need each other a little less, and perhaps fill the social gap with personal pursuits and a greater appreciation of solitude. And maybe that’s a good thing, because, as this writer notes, “creating and sustaining meaningful connections with other people is extremely difficult.”
— By Niall Stewart
Running is an Antidepressant
Medications can be vital for treating depression. But new research adds to much other evidence indicating that aerobic exercise — and in this case running — is on par with commonly prescribed antidepressant medications, but has few negative side effects and considerable added benefits. This runner and health coach explains how to get started running and create a long-term plan to stick with it.
— By Elizabeth Knight, PhD
How to Leverage Anger for Happiness
Don’t get angry with me! But do get angry. Just channel it well. New research finds anger can motivate us to achieve goals with greater efficiency and success. Negative emotions like anger, sadness, boredom or anxiety, if properly channeled, can lead to long-term positive outcomes like general life satisfaction and happiness. But oh, the potential pitfalls! Learn how to successfully leverage anger and how easily it can otherwise lead to rage.
— By Robert Roy Britt
Rules: Take ’Em, Break ’Em, Make ’Em
We encounter a pervasive set of cultural rules throughout life. Self-development is the journey of pairing our personal rules with these cultural rules. So, this psychologist writes: “Your development evolves in three phases: you learn the rules, break the rules, and then make the rules.” A how-to guide.
— By Wayne Stelk, PhD
Our Psychiatric Diagnoses Aren’t Perfect, but Misusing Labels Makes it Worse
A psychiatrist admits what many people who struggle with mental health conditions already know: “Troubles with diagnosis plague psychiatry,” he writes. “We lack simple, objective biological measures, such as genetic markers, brain images, or blood tests, to definitively identify particular disorders.” He explains what’s going on, how the lack of better diagnostics affects patients, and what needs to be done.
—John Kruse MD, PhD
Endometriosis is Not ‘All in Your Head’
Millions of women are in pain, but healthcare providers often dismiss it, delaying a correct diagnosis and treatment for years. This writer — a couple and family therapy professor, clinician and researcher — knows: She was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 19. Here she breaks down the science, the stigma, and everything else you need to know.
—By Kristina S. Brown
ELSEWHERE
Informative and helpful stories beyond Wise & Well’s coverage:
Are Hormones my Only Option in Menopause? (Menopause Matter on Medium)
Is Long Covid Physiological or Psychological? Please Just Read the Science (Long COVID Connection on Medium)
RANDOM BIT OF WISDOM
“Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it.”
— Lily Tomlin
Wise & Well writers are physicians, psychiatrists, research scientists, dieticians, fitness experts, journalists and other professionals who share their expertise to help you make tomorrow a little better than today. If you like any of these highly curated, professionally edited stories, please follow Wise & Well.
Doesn't that stress level figure depend on the circumstances at the time as well? My husband had dementia and died from complications of COVID. While I didn't measure it, I would guess mine would be in the high category even though I was over 65. I wonder what the figure would be for people in a next category like 66 to 85.