Stress Management in the | Pandemic GEOTIMES

The spread of Covid-19 is increasing day by day, ranging from the number of people who are disinfected, to the number of deaths whose impact affects all sectors and results in significant changes in all aspects of people's lives. Various policies have been carried out by the government to stop the spread of this virus, such as the enactment of lockdown, physical distancing, and the implementation of health protocols in various places.

The existence of this policy, of course, led to some changes. It can be seen in most parents who undergo working from home (WFH) and working from office (WHO).  In addition, students also undergo distance learning (PJJ), although a small percentage have returned to boarding schools or schools for those in the green zone or the rate of spread of the Covid-19 virus is relatively low. However, it still adheres to applicable health protocols.

Government policies in addressing various aspects of people's lives during this pandemic are very helpful to reduce the chain of spread of the Covid-19 virus. Not only the government, health workers are always struggling and even willing to sacrifice themselves to provide adequate help, treatment, and care for all patients affected by the Covid-19 virus.

We as a society should adhere to policies made by the government and health experts. These policies will not bring about positive change, if there is no good collaboration with the community.  However, if the policy is not managed properly, it can be at risk of health, one of which can trigger stress.

What is stress? Stress is the process of continuous interaction between the individual and his environment. Stress occurs when there is a discrepancy between the demands faced and the individual's ability to deal with the claim (Lazarus &Folkman, 1984; Lovallo, 2005; Trumbull & Appley, 1986; in Sarafino, 2008).

The results of a survey conducted by Iskandarsyah and Yudiana (2020), showed that 78% of participants felt anxious about the spread of covid-19 and 23% felt unhappy or depressed. These conditions are common in the midst of outbreaks of this erratic disease. Emotional changes such as worry, anxiety and stress are natural as long as they do not interfere with the psychological condition of the individual and do not harm others around him.

When viewed from the majority of stress, the scope of stress during the Covid-19 pandemic is as follows.

Coronavirus Disease Pandemic 2019 (Covid-19) has an impact in the field of education, ranging from elementary to college level. They must take their academic activities online, of course this requires information in the learning process. The learning process like this is considered more tiring and boring because it can not interact directly with either teachers or friends. On the other hand, there are some children who have difficulty accessing the internet, do not even have sophisticated gadgets to do online learning, causing the learning process to be uneventful. If this continues without being overcome, it can trigger stress for people who experience it.

Work stress is the emotional stress experienced by a person when facing enormous demands, obstacles and very important opportunities that can affect one's emotions, thoughts, and physical consequences (Warningsih, 2018). During this pandemic, they are required to carry out new habits creatively and innovatively, as well as take advantage of the sophistication of today's technology.

Stress in the family is a form of accumulation of academic stress in children, work stress on parents (father or mother), then can also be exacerbated by family conditions that are less harmonious. Maybe in real life, the stress in this family that gets the biggest burden is the housewife. In addition to having to take care of homework, she also had to take on the role of teacher for her children in this pandemic period.

According to Lazarus and Folkman (1984), the state of stress experienced by a person will cause unfavorable effects both psychologically and physiologically. The individual will not allow the negative effects to occur, he will seek to neutralize or reduce the stress that occurs. This is called coping.

According to Smet (1994), there are two types of coping: focus on problems and focus on emotions. Problem-focused coping, used to reduce individual stressors, is done to cope and learn new ways or new skills to cope with stress. The individual will use this coping strategy if he believes he can change the situation. Coping, which focuses on emotions, is used to regulate the emotional response to stress. Its union through individual behavior, such as how to negate such unpleasant facts. This strategy is used if the individual feels unable to change stressful conditions.

According to PMI (Indonesian Red Cross) in the stress management manual, there are five stress management techniques as follows.

1. Recognize ourselves, know our weaknesses and strengths.

2. Care for yourself by meeting your visible needs.

3. Pay attention to emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual, and recreational mental balance.

4. Be proactive in preventing stress disorder by maintaining the five aspects above.

5. Synergy, the process that needs to be done to rise from adversity and stress.

Based on the Komnas Perempuan survey (2020), showed that about 10.3% (235) respondents reported relationships with their partners were increasingly strained, with those who had married status more vulnerable (12%) than unmarried (2.5%). Relationships with couples have become more strained since the Covid-19 pandemic according to people aged 31-40. It is also a trigger for KDRT. Not a few news that reported cases of domestic violence in this pandemic period.

Each individual has a different way of dealing with stress, depending on the center of the individual's own problem. Effective strategy, which is in accordance with the type of stress and the situation. Therefore, in this pandemic period we are required to be good at managing strategies in overcoming stress.

Handayani, Nurul Setyawati and Nur Riani. "The Impact of Librarians' Work Stress During the Covid-19 Pandemic on College Library Services." Journal of Library and Information Sciences 15, No.1 (June, 2020): 99-103.

Iskandarsyah, A & Yudiana, W (2020). COVID-19 Information, Healthy Behavior and Psychological Conditions in Indonesia. Survey Report. Faculty of Psychology, University of Padjajaran.

National Commission against Violence Against Women. Review of Dynamics of Change in Households During Covid 19 in 34 Provinces in Indonesia. Jakarta: Komnas Perempuan, 2020.

Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). 2015. "Stress Management Guide."