There's no denying that the last 18 months has been a new level of worldwide stress that has everyone scrambling to make sense of what it all means.  Communities, countries, families and friendships have become divided for a lot of people as everyone tries to figure out the best way for us to deal with it all.

Today I want to give a simple explanation of why people react they way they do to this global stress, explain how we can understand what's going on in our brains and why people react the way they do, and give you a couple of tips on how to reduce the stress and our stress reactions during this time.

If you feel you are being challenged by pandemic stress, please reach out to support systems in your country that may be able to offer help, advice and steps to take to help you improve your mental well-being.

In Australia, you can call LifeLine on 13 11 14 or visit your GP.  If you are outside of Australia, please reach out to a health professional for advice on where to get mental health support.

Stay safe, be kind.

Dr Carla Maree