Stress. It can lead to a host of physical and emotional difficulties that are ultimately much more dangerous for your health, and therefore should not be taken lightly. There is no question that the pandemic has accelerated mental health decline. Globally, surveys have found that 10.8% of those questioned have had suicidal thoughts. This is more than double the percentage of people who had such thoughts before the pandemic started. Psychotherapy with a licensed professional in Thunder Bay, can help you to feel much more capable and effective over the stresses in your life. These are some stress statistics that you should be aware of.
COVID and Mental Health
The WHO (World Health Organization) reports that there has been a 25% global increase in anxiety and depression since the pandemic began. There can be many reasons for this, such as the restrictions from social contact and the imperative of maintaining social distance, the restrictions of wearing face masks and other personal protective equipment, and restricted travel, which have all contributed to making us feel more isolated and lonely, and in some cases, have created some serious economic hardships for those who lost their jobs, or experienced other job changes. It can be argued that COVID has been one of the biggest contributing factors to stress in recent years.
Workplace Stress
Workplace stress has also increased since the pandemic. It is an era where many companies are understaffed, and employees can end up overworked. This can be either because they are working longer hours or having to do the job of two people. Last year, it was reported that about 82% of Canadian workers were feeling burnt out due to daily job-related stress. Even worse, 70% of Canadian workers also stated that they felt ignored by their employer in addressing employee burnout.
Sleep Issues
Another factor related directly to mental health is the amount of sleep you get every night. For example, a lack of sleep can make you feel more tired, less focused, and less capable, making daily life feel more overwhelming and difficult to cope with. This in turn can result in decreased self-esteem, resulting in a vicious cycle that can lead to increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Studies have found that twice as many people who feel that they sleep poorly, also feel that they struggle with mental health difficulties as those who feel that they get enough sleep nightly (mind.org.uk). Sleeping issues appear to be mainly in women. About 50% of Canadian women have trouble staying asleep compared to 43% of men.
See a Psychotherapist in Thunder Bay
If you have concerns about managing your stress, there are options for you. Professional psychotherapists can help you to deal with your stress more effectively, and help you to feel that you are living a happier, fuller and more joyful life. Are you ready to tackle your stress? Message Thunder Bay Psychology today to get started.