If you think you are struggling to handle the mental stresses of 2020, a younger generation may actually have it worse. Dr. David Nathan is an Allina Health psychologist and he says that out of all the groups suffering during the pandemic, he worries most about teenagers. Dr. Nathan sat down with WCCO-TV on June 26th to share what trends he’s seeing and what parents and guardians can do to help. Watch now.

Being kind is never a bad idea. But now more than ever, we all could use a little extra thoughtfulness, understanding and connection. Mailing a handwritten note, initiating a video or phone call or sending a personal text are all good ways to reach out, even when you can’t be together.
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We all have times in our lives when it seems like very little is within our control. This is especially true when bad things happen. It’s a frustrating and helpless feeling.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Lots of people live with mental health conditions. In fact, they are as common as having brown eyes! Many different and effective treatments are available, which is great news, but too many people do not seek help even when they know they need it. This often is due to the stigma associated with having a mental health condition. Stigma sets a group or individual apart in a negative way. It leads to labels, stereotypes, and bullying. Stigma can make people who are already suffering feel even more isolated.
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Life tends to feel a lot better when we’re clear about what’s important to us, and then organize and prioritize our time and energy with that in mind. This Change to Chill activity is designed to help you do just that. But sometimes, even when we have the best of intentions, life throws us for a loop. It’s easy then to feel defeated…like we aren’t actually in control.

The problem is when we compare how life is to how we think it should be. If we hang on too hard to expectations and stuck ways of thinking, we miss opportunities in the here and now.
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If you have been feeling anxious lately, you’re not alone. Anxiety is a very common, very normal feeling. Sometimes though, anxiety hangs on for too long or gets too strong and becomes a problem. When life changes suddenly and dramatically, even temporarily, feeling more anxious than usual isn’t surprising.
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This spring isn’t going how anyone planned. Most of us are having to take life one day at a time more than ever before. Staying focused on “regular life” things like school, friendships, future plans and basic self-care can be really hard when nothing feels regular.

Fortunately, there are many tools and strategies available through Change to Chill that you can use to help you keep on track. Here are some places to start:
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If you’re an athlete trying to keep up your skills as well as manage feelings of disappointment and uncertainty about when you’ll get back to your sport, you’re not alone. Sporting types from Olympians to aspiring tee-ball stars have seen their seasons upended recently. Even the options for practicing and conditioning have dramatically changed due to the coronavirus. It can be hard not to get frustrated and angry.
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Change to Chill’s very own Susan Nygaard was featured on WCCO-TC in an interview with anchor Liz Collin about managing the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the ways stress can disrupt our lives both physically and mentally—plus how understanding the cause of stress can help us begin to manage it. 
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With coronavirus (COVID-19) social distancing recommendations in place for the near future, all of us are learning how to manage the change in routines, coupled with feelings of uncertainty and fear. Learn more from the Healthy Set Go blog by Allina Health.