Managing stress appropriately may strengthen your mental health

Lori James, director of the Senior Renewal programs at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland, says people who’ve never had any type of mental health concerns pre-pandemic are now seeking advice and being treated at HSHS hospitals for stress and mental health-related challenges.

Physical symptoms of stress may also be present: fatigue, changes in appetite, lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy, headache, muscle tension, unexplained anger or sadness and more.

How you respond to stress can depend on many life factors; background, social support, finances, health, emotions, your community and more. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, your loved ones and your community stronger. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the following tips:
·         Take care of your body. Stress can cause physical pain, so try to regularly stretch, take deep breaths, get plenty of sleep, eat well and get a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise every day.
·         Know what to do if you are sick and concerned about COVID-19. Contact your health care provider before starting any type of self-treatment.
·         Know where to get treatment. Whether it’s COVID-19-related or stress in general, know what resources are available in your community.
·         Connect with your community or faith-based organizations. Social distancing may prevent some in-person activities, but consider holding book club via Zoom, share recipes and photos via text or call a local nonprofit to see if there are any home-based tasks you can do to help their cause.
·         Stick to the facts. Don’t believe rumors or follow stigmas when it comes to understanding COVID-19 risks. Seek out credible sources for accurate information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov/coronavirus) or your local public health department.

James says reaching out to fellow community members suffering through stressors can help lift them up and also enhance your own mental health.

“You may find that thoughtful and kind gestures such as sitting with others, listening to them, or simply being present can resonate with them and can have a large impact,” she explains.

For more information about healthy ways to manage stress, visit cdc.gov.

Senior Renewal Programs at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland both offer an outpatient program called Senior Renewal for adults (generally) 60 years and over who are dealing with issues such as depression, anxiety, “nerves” and other mood disorders. The program works to restore a sense of well-being and quality of life and helps participants return to the peak of their capabilities.

To refer yourself, a patient or a loved one to the Senior Renewal Program at either HSHS St. Joseph’s Breese or HSHS St. Joseph’s Highland, call either number below to schedule a confidential assessment:

Senior Renewal Program (Breese): 618-526-5699
Senior Renewal Program (Highland): 618-651-2940

Staff will request some information and will promptly schedule an appointment. All initial screenings are free of charge. Both St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland work closely with referring health care professionals so that timely communications can take place with families, physicians, social services agencies and others.

For more information about HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese or HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, visit their websites at stjoebreese.com and stjosephshighland.org.


Managing stress appropriately may strengthen your mental health Lori James, director of the Senior Renewal programs at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland, says people who’ve never had any type of mental health concerns pre-pandemic are now seeking advice and being treated at HSHS hospitals for stress and mental health-related challenges. Physical symptoms of stress may also be present: fatigue, changes in appetite, lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy, headache, muscle tension, unexplained anger or sadness and more. How you respond to stress can depend on many life factors; background, social support, finances, health, emotions, your community and more. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, your loved ones and your community stronger. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the following tips: · Take care of your body. Stress can cause physical pain, so try to regularly stretch, take deep breaths, get plenty of sleep, eat well and get a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise every day. · Know what to do if you are sick and concerned about COVID-19. Contact your health care provider before starting any type of self-treatment. · Know where to get treatment. Whether it’s COVID-19-related or stress in general, know what resources are available in your community. · Connect with your community or faith-based organizations. Social distancing may prevent some in-person activities, but consider holding book club via Zoom, share recipes and photos via text or call a local nonprofit to see if there are any home-based tasks you can do to help their cause. · Stick to the facts. Don’t believe rumors or follow stigmas when it comes to understanding COVID-19 risks. Seek out credible sources for accurate information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov/coronavirus) or your local public health department. James says reaching out to fellow community members suffering through stressors can help lift them up and also enhance your own mental health. “You may find that thoughtful and kind gestures such as sitting with others, listening to them, or simply being present can resonate with them and can have a large impact,” she explains. For more information about healthy ways to manage stress, visit cdc.gov. Senior Renewal Programs at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland both offer an outpatient program called Senior Renewal for adults (generally) 60 years and over who are dealing with issues such as depression, anxiety, “nerves” and other mood disorders. The program works to restore a sense of well-being and quality of life and helps participants return to the peak of their capabilities. To refer yourself, a patient or a loved one to the Senior Renewal Program at either HSHS St. Joseph’s Breese or HSHS St. Joseph’s Highland, call either number below to schedule a confidential assessment: Senior Renewal Program (Breese): 618-526-5699 Senior Renewal Program (Highland): 618-651-2940 Staff will request some information and will promptly schedule an appointment. All initial screenings are free of charge. Both St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland work closely with referring health care professionals so that timely communications can take place with families, physicians, social services agencies and others. For more information about HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese or HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, visit their websites at stjoebreese.com and stjosephshighland.org.
Chamber Connection - October 2, 2020