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Tips for easing stress

GEHA | April 2, 2021

Telemedicine Well-being Health and wellness

GEHA offers telehealth visits with licensed therapists through MDLIVE.

To say the COVID-19 pandemic is stressful would be a massive understatement.

A study conducted last year and published in General Psychiatry found a 60% increase in psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression and insomnia among physicians, nurses and medical residents.

Stress can cause:

Feelings of fear, sadness, anger, worry, indifference or frustration
Changes in appetite, energy, interests and desires
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Insomnia or nightmares
Headaches, body pains, skin rashes or stomach problems
Increased use of alcohol or tobacco
Exacerbated chronic or mental health conditions

It is natural to feel stress, worry, grief and anxiety throughout life. Learning to handle these conditions in a healthy manner will make you, your loved ones and community more resilient. Some ways to deal with stress include:

Take a vacation from social media and the news. It is good to be informed, but constant troubling news only compounds stress. Disconnect from screens all but a couple times each day.
Let your body unwind by doing activities you enjoy.
Make an effort to connect with people – virtually or with social distancing – to talk about how you feel.
Take care of yourself by eating healthy, exercising and getting enough sleep.
Meditation.

Get help with MDLIVE

Telehealth is available for you or a household family member who is experiencing any of the risk factors or suicidal behaviors. This online counseling provides 24/7 virtual access to doctors and therapists. Studies have shown that telehealth can be as effective as in-person counseling, with the added benefits of privacy and convenience.

MDLIVE Behavioral Health Services is available to GEHA medical members. To start using MDLIVE, activate your account online or call 888.912.1183.

This is a brief description of the features of the Elevate, HDHP, Standard Option, Elevate Plus and High Option medical plans. Please read the plan’s Federal brochures RI-006 (High and Standard Options), RI 71-014 (HDHP) or RI 71-018 (Elevate and Elevate Plus), available at geha.com/PlanBrochure. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions set forth in the Federal brochure.

Sources:
“Coping with stress.” cdc.gov, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 January, 2021.
“The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’s impact on mental health.” ncbi.nl.nih, The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 22 June, 2020.
“Post COVID-19 pandemic mental health challenges.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 22 September, 2020.
“Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in China.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, General Psychiatry, 14 June, 2020.