Building resilience—the ability to adapt and recover from adversity—within ourselves, our relationships, and in our communities matters. When we find healthy ways to cope with trauma and toxic stress, especially during the tough times, we take a step closer to becoming more resilient.
Coping with life’s challenges
Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with the day-to-day challenges of life.
Stress takes many forms
- Mood swings and intense feelings, including fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones, sadness, anger, guilt, and disorientation
- Denial, detachment, or avoidance
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Irritability, strained relationships and conflicts with family, friends, and co-workers
- Changes in your normal sleep or eating patterns
- Soreness, nausea, head or stomach ache
- Elevated breathing, heartbeats, and blood pressure
- Sensitivity to unusual sounds, smells, and changes in your environment
- A worsening of preexisting chronic or mental health conditions
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
Reduce stress
Stress and anxiety can make us spiral. Take the time to discover which coping skills work for you, and practice them every day.
Establish a routine
Staying balanced is easier when you build periods of activity and rest into your daily schedule.
Talk it out
Try talking about your experiences and feelings with loved ones, a trusted advisor, or a support group or mental health professional. It can help.
Avoid big decisions when possible
Important decisions are usually stressful in their own right, and can be even harder when you’re dealing with a trauma.
Monitor your reactions
Check in with your body and emotions. Know the signs of toxic stress and reach out for help if you feel like you can’t cope.
Learn MORE about Environmental Health from our partner here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov