Easing worries

Qi, from Yunhsi Travel, said her anxiety started to ease after she settled in her new apartment. She continued to exercise regularly, no matter how busy or tired she was, as she said she had to remain positive about life.

"At work, I had many in-depth discussions with my colleagues and also tried some new working methods. This was really effective, and things gradually improved," she said.

Psychologists said others can learn from the ways in which Qi handled her stress.

Negative feelings can be triggered by events such as the pandemic or a sense of being rejected.

"However, in general, they are due to a loss of self-esteem, which makes people feel they are not good enough or even worthless," Yu said, adding that in such cases social support should be sought.

"You can either talk to people you are familiar with, such as friends and family, or turn to those you don't know very well, or even strangers. They may help you find a solution, or just provide you with the chance to vent your feelings," he said.

When friends need social support, Yu said simply telling them they "will be fine" should be avoided. Instead, they should be offered solid emotional support.

"You can praise them to help restore their self-esteem, provide an 'emotional buffer' for them to express their feelings, and give honest suggestions," he said.

Yoshitake Takebayashi, an assistant professor at Fukushima Medical University in Japan, said it is vital to listen to friends' worries sympathetically before offering any specific advice.

"More important, in supporting others, your own well-being should be maintained. If not, it will be difficult to successfully support those around you," he said.

Yu suggested that if those experiencing stress do not want to talk to anyone, they should try expressive writing, a personal and emotional form of communication that focuses more on personal feelings than specific events.

Doing sports can be another way to eliminate stress, as exercise can stimulate the secretion of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which produce a sense of happiness.

"Exercise for half an hour a day, and it will be more effective if you work up a sweat," Yu said.