April has been designated as National Stress Awareness Month. Stress can affect anyone, it has many different symptoms, and not everyone will experience it the same way. Although not all stress is bad—chronic (or long-term) stress can put you at risk for a variety of physical, mental, and emotional health problems. From headaches and stomach disorders to depression and sleep disorders—even stroke and heart disease can be a result of chronic stress.

While there is no such thing as eliminating all stress, there are ways you can minimize and manage stress to improve mental and physical well-being.

Follow these suggestions from the CDC to find healthy ways to cope during stressful times:

• Take a Social Media Detox: Periodic breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media, is good for you—especially if this is a stressor for you. It is good to be informed, but constant information about negative events can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body. Staying physically healthy can improve your emotional well-being.  Try to eat healthy, get enough sleep (7 or more hours per night), and be physically active (move more and sit less).
• Limit alcohol intake. Choose not to drink or drink in moderation.  Moderation means two or fewer drinks a day for men and one drink or less for women.  Also avoid using illegal drugs or prescriptions drugs in ways other than prescribed.  This includes never taking someone else’s prescription.  And avoid smoking, vaping, and the use of other tobacco products.  You may think this is your best way to deal with stress, but at a great cost.
• Make time to unwind. Try deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation,  stretching, and mindfulness meditation.  And take time to do some activities you enjoy. Try a cooking class, go to a ballgame, or plan a vacation.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. And if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days, contact your healthcare provider.

Remember, too, that Drake has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which employees and their families can access. Our EAP provider is Employee & Family Resources (EFR). They offer phone-based support and in person counseling with a licensed mental health therapist.  You can reach EFR by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://efr.org/how-we-help/work/.  All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

EFR offers webinars (check out Drake HR’s monthly email for upcoming webinars) and posts past webinars for on-demand access. Consider checking out: What’s Your Stress Pattern, Give Yourself the Gift of Relaxation, or Stress & Burnout. You can also take a DASS-21 self-assessment (measuring depression, anxiety, and stress).

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources