Below are a few steps to take to help you to cope and deal with stress:

• Take care of your body – Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 
• Connect with others – Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships, and build a strong support system.
• Take breaks – Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Try taking in deep breaths. Try to do activities you usually enjoy.
• Avoid too much exposure to news – Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about crises and see images repeatedly. Try to do enjoyable activities.
• Seek help when needed – If distress impacts the activities of your daily life for several days or weeks, consider talking to a mental health professional or your doctor. 

Here are some helpful tips from the Mental Health Advocates of WNY:

1. Get enough (and better) sleep. Most people need 7–8 hours every night. Unplug from technology an hour (or more) before bedtime. Don't sleep with your phone nearby. Try to go to bed and get up at a regular time.
2. Eat healthy foods. Replace caffeine, alcohol, and fast food with fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins. Food affects your mood. Small changes can make a big difference. 
3. Exercise regularly. To boost your energy, help you remain calmer and more focused, lower the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and get better sleep, exercise is powerful medicine (even a simple walk).
4. Be mindful. The past is gone. The future is not yet here. Enjoy the gift of this moment, which is why we call it the present. Dwell on what is right, not what's wrong. Be thankful for all the good in your life.
5. Do things you love. Listen to music, garden, paint, or hang out with your cat or dog. Do things that put a skip in your step and a smile on your face.
6. Cultivate spirituality. Faith has a positive impact on mood and mental health. It generates optimism, enriches relationships, creates support systems, and improves the quality of life.
7. Limit technology. This is a biggie. Watch less TV, limit social media, and spend fewer hours on the phone. You'll feel better. A lot better.
8. Invest in relationships. Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Stay close to your friends, especially those who are particularly anxious right now.
9. Get help if you need it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it's a sign of humanity. We are meant for community. We need each other.
10. Be kind to yourself. Flight attendants tell you that in case of an emergency, "put on your own oxygen mask first." You can't help others if you're gasping for air. Make your mental health a priority. Be good to you!

If anyone is in need of immediate help for emotional concerns, please contact Spectrum Health & Human Services - 24-hour emergency helpline: 882-HELP or their Youth Crisis Line: (716) 882-4357.