GREENSBORO, N.C. — Gas and grocery prices got you stressed? you’re not alone.
The American Psychological Association says three-quarters of people felt so stressed to the point of being overwhelmed or unable to cope.
A Triad woman shares how her stress almost took over her life.
Cone Health employee Juanetta Johnson has a full schedule.
“Organizational skills definitely come into play," Johnson said.
Stocking shelves and ordering hospital supplies.
“We do everything. We have to maintain the stock room, order everything, and make sure our part levels are kept and met each day.”
While the shelves were full, Johnson’s stress was also high.
“It was very hard. I was going through a divorce, and I was trying to come to work dealing with that.”
Johnson spoke about the struggles she battled alone.
According to the American Psychological Association's 2022 'Stress In America' study, nearly 70% of Americans experience stress and less than half (37%) are managing it well.
The three top things causing people stress these days are money, their work, and the economy.
Here in the Triad, an expert WFMY News 2 spoke to said more patients are coming in to be treated for their stress.
“People are sitting with quite a lot these days, especially coming out of COVID-19. There were so many things when we were dealing with COVID-19, and now being out of it, that’s where we are seeing the most work right now," Dr. Shavene Bryant, a Cone Health Psychotherapist, said.
Tips for Stress
The CDC says there are healthy ways people can deal with stress. They recommend:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Consider limiting news to just a couple of times a day and disconnecting from phone, TV, and computer screens for a while.
- Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and give yourself a break if you feel stressed out.
- Take care of your body.
- Recognize when you need more help. If problems continue or you are thinking about suicide, talk to a psychologist, social worker, or professional counselor.
Determined not to let her stress take over her life, Winston-Salem native Juanetta Johnson enlisted the help of Dr. Shevene Bryant.
The first step to combat her stress was with inspiration.
"Beside me here I have what I call my inspiration board and any quotes or things that I have felt or administered to me I resort to that," Johnson said.
Five years ago, Johnson says she never could have imagined being overwhelmed by stress. Today, she's reminded that "not all storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clear your path."
