The news has been particularly
distressing. The new coronavirus (COVID-19) makes us fearful of being in public
while the volatile stock market threatens retirement savings. Tolerance for
perceived threats varies by person, says psychologist Marc Schoen, PhD, author
of Your Survival Instinct is Killing You, which is why one person stocks
up on canned foods and another just washes hands more often…or why some
investors are selling stocks while others see drops as a buying opportunity.
If you’re feeling more
stress and anxiety, try Dr. Schoen’s tricks to dial back your body’s response—and
to bolster your mood and immunity.
• Write down
your worries. Writing down and putting a label on your fears helps lower stress
and the brain’s fear reaction by taking them out of your head, making them feel
more concrete and manageable.
• Chill out
before bedtime withgentle stretching, warm baths or meditation. This
helps keep stress and fear biochemicals from being part of your sleep cycle, which
impair sleep quality. Poor sleep boosts inflammation and lowers immunity.
• Exercise in
moderation. Even short bursts, such as a fast-paced walk or five minutes
going up and down stairs, helps reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol
while boosting immunity.
• Stay connected.
Feeling scared can lead to feeling alone or alienated. Spend quality time with
loved ones, sharing your fears, can increase your body’s levels of the
feel-good hormone, oxytocin.
I’m also limiting my
news exposure. The more I watch and read, the higher my stress levels.