Everyone experiences stress. Stress is your body’s natural response to changes or challenges. It can result from your job, social situations, interactions with family members, or even common fears like flying or public speaking.

At times, stress can help you stay focused, energetic and alert under pressure. Too much stress can negatively affect your mental health and lead to conditions such as depression or anxiety.

When you can manage your stress, you may feel less anxious.

Are You Struggling with Stress?

If you’re finding it hard to cope with life’s stresses, it’s okay to need support. When stressful situations occur, like the COVID-19 public health emergency, it’s normal to experience heightened feelings of sadness, anger, frustration and anxiety. If these feelings worsen and you’re having trouble with day-to-day activities, it’s time to get help.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. After all, you wouldn’t leave a physical injury untreated; your mental health is no different. The sooner you get care and focus on healing, the sooner you can feel more like yourself.