To say that people are stressed in the face of global pandemic is an understatement. Beyond the very real concerns about our health and the health of our loved ones, the shelter-in-place orders combined with the loss of so many normal spiritual resources are making many people feel unmoored. Psychologists have coined the term Covid Stress Syndrome to describe the psychological effects of the pandemic, and the CDC has released recommendations for dealing with the emotional fallout from this crisis.
How are you coping? The following quiz can help you evaluate the level of stress you’re under and identify the supports you might need to manage your stress, worry or anxiety.
Select “0” for no, and “1” for yes.
| 1. I am an extrovert. | 0 or 1 |
| 2. I personally know someone who has COVID-19. | 0 or 1 |
| 3. I personally know someone who died or is in critical condition from COVID-19. | 0 or 1 |
| 4. A major life event occurred since the coronavirus outbreak (someone I know died, I moved or was unable to move, became homeless, etc. ) | 0 or 1 |
| 5. I am pregnant. | 0 or 1 |
| 6. I have an immunocompromised or at-risk family member living with me. | 0 or 1 |
| 7. I do not have access to outdoor space (live in an apartment). | 0 or 1 |
| 8. I have children. | 0 or 1 |
| 9. My life was majorly changed as a result from working from home. | 0 or 1 |
| 10. I personally or my partner lost his/her job as a result from the coronavirus. | 0 or 1 |
| 11. I was working parent prior to this outbreak. | 0 or 1 |
| 12. My sleep has been disrupted in the last two weeks. | 0 or 1 |
| 13. My eating has been changed (eating more or less than usual in the last two weeks). | 0 or 1 |
| 14. I have been diagnosed with COVID-19. | 0 or 1 |
| 15. I am concerned I have it or frequently concerned about my health. | 0 or 1 |
Add up the number on the right to view your total.
Mild Impact 0-5
You’re currently managing well. Consider ways you may be able to lend a hand to someone in need.
Moderate impact 6-10
Life has been disrupted but to a manageable degree. You’re making efforts to take care of yourself and your loved ones, but you are hopeful that when this crisis passes, things will return to normal. Make sure to continue eat well, exercise, engage in meaningful activities, connect as much as possible with loved ones, spend time making a “sacrifice of praise” to God by writing down the blessings of each day, and limit your exposure to news and social media. If you like, you can take this time to increase your resilience by turning to books like Unworried: A Life Without Anxiety (get it 50% off through the publisher for a limited time) to learn new tools for managing stress and anxiety.
Severe Impact 11-15
This crisis is having a major impact on your life. You have serious concerns about how all of this will affect you and it is impacting your ability to cope. It will be important to strengthen your efforts at self-care (eating well, exercising, engaging in meaningful activities, connecting as much as possible with loved ones, making regular “sacrifices of praise” to God by writing down the blessings of each day, and limiting your exposure to news and social media), as well as learning new tools from books like Unworried: A Life Without Anxiety (available for 50% off through the publisher for a limited time) and considering seeking support from a professional tele-counseling agency like The Pastoral Solutions Institute which offers Catholic-integrated, professional pastoral counseling services by telephone.
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Social distancing doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Be mindful about self-care, connecting with others and God, and getting the resources and support you need to stand strong in the face of this crisis. As a Christian, it isn’t our job to simply weather the storm. We are called to show the world that is it possible to be strong, confident, peaceful and joyful even in the face of crisis, and to do all we can to work for the good of others. Don’t let the stressors of the world weigh you down. Get the help you need to become the whole, healed, godly, grace-filled person you are meant to be.