Due to the uncertainty surrounding the wildfires here in the north, many of us are experiencing stress and anxiety.

And each of us will manifest these in our own ways, according to Jennifer Whalen, a Mental Health Promotion Coordinator with the Northern Health Region.

Here she shares how they can affect us physically.

“You might notice that you are more tense, maybe your muscles feel tight, you are tired or achy. Maybe you don’t have the energy that you typically have or lack some of the motivation that you need in order to get things done from day to day.”  

Emotionally, she added we may feel tearful, down, over-whelmed, edgy or confrontational.

If these aren’t your typical behaviours, it could be your way of exhibiting stress.

Whelan said finding coping mechanisms that work for you are best done before stressful incidents occur, rather than trying to learn them when your capacity to do so is lessened.

For helpful tips and resources for managing stressful situations, catch Thompson Today for the full interview with Whelan at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.