MANAGING YOUR STRESS AND ANXIOUSNESS

IN TIMES OF THREATS

The general level of anxiety still remains high today.

Although the majority of us are able to cope with this type of context, developing a form of habituation or even resilience, 10 to 15% of individuals nevertheless show a strong initial sensitivity to stress, due to pre-existing pathologies, and 25 to 30% of others end up being weakened by these situations when they last. This translates into anxiety attacks, sleep disturbances, exhaustion.

About one in five people can develop a real depressive state, due to predispositions and/or stress factors of this type. And in particular young people aged 15 to 30, an age group where we have more psychological fragilities and young people aged 18 who have everything to build.

These may have been aggravated by the loss of social landmarks due to confinements, curfews, the closure of places of socialization (theaters, cinemas, sports halls, etc.), estrangement from loved ones, etc. Complicated situations have added to generational questions about the future of the world, the state of the planet, the professional future... The conflict in Ukraine could only worsen the situation, be the cause of decompensations.

How to protect yourself ?

Psychiatry professor Antoine Pelissolo gives some leads in Conversation.

1° The first piece of advice is not to permanently expose yourself to sources of anxiety such as, for example, continuous news channels or social networks. The risk is indeed to amplify the perception of the threat and the feeling of powerlessness.

It is important to put in place a form of rationality in the face of fears that are often overflowing and try to put things into perspective in terms of risk and seriousness to counter the uncertainty about the future.

In general, the idea is rather to manage day by day, to anchor oneself in the present moment. It's not about denial, but rather about taking small steps, as you go along: keeping in mind that you may have to face more complex problems when the day comes, but staying focused on the elements of the present, on which we can act.

2° Practicing activities that allow you to better manage your stress such as relaxation, breathing exercises, sport, yoga, walking, meditation, artistic activities... Approaches, if possible in contact with nature, generating positive emotions.

3° Set up a rhythm of life that you control, at least in part by agreeing to break times or distractions that are not only dictated by current events and necessity.

4° Finally, do not neglect socialization: exchange with others, share your feelings. Investing in actions of mutual aid, solidarity, also allows you to fight against your feeling of powerlessness.

Each according to their possibilities...