Taking deep breaths, sleeping well, exercising, and practicing meditation are some of the recommendations that a Cuban hospital has recently provided to combat chronic stress, in a country where prolonged blackouts, scarcity, inflation, and the struggles of daily life have become significant sources of exhaustion for the population.
The Arnaldo Milián Castro Provincial Clinical Surgical Hospital in Santa Clara issued an alert this Friday regarding the effects that prolonged stress can have on the body and provided a series of tips to reduce it.
"Chronic stress can affect your body in ways you can't even imagine," warned the institution, listing among its possible manifestations sleep problems, panic attacks, chest pain, muscle tension, stomach discomfort, difficulties concentrating, hair loss, lack of energy, and increased heart rate.
The hospital explained that the body can remain in a state of "constant alert," with activation of the amygdala, an increase in cortisol, and an overload of the nervous system.
"It's like living with the gas pedal pressed down all the time," he summarized.
The recipe to try to reduce that stress? “Take a deep breath,” “do gentle exercise,” “sleep well,” “talk to someone,” and “practice meditation or mindfulness”.
The center also recommended seeking professional help when necessary.
The advice, common in any guide for dealing with stress, takes on a paradoxical tone in current Cuba, where for many people something as fundamental as sleeping continuously depends on whether the electricity supply holds out through the night.
Arnaldo Milián Castro's message concludes by reminding us that stress does not only affect the mind: "Your body speaks to you, listen to it. Stress is not just mental; it is physical, emotional, and silent. Taking care of yourself is not a luxury, it is a necessity."
The problem for many Cubans is that, under current conditions, some of those seemingly simple recommendations—such as getting enough sleep, resting, or reducing worries—may have become just another luxury that is hard to attain.
Additionally, the psychological impact of that reality has already been the subject of studies.
A study published this year in the journal Social Science & Medicine analyzed 415 adults living in Cuba and found a high prevalence of severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress associated with prolonged blackouts and, especially, with the way these disrupt daily life.
The problem is not limited to power outages. Experts have linked the combination of economic uncertainty, shortages of food and medicine, transportation difficulties, and the overall deterioration of services to an increase in mental health issues.
In April, healthcare professionals warned about the increase in self-medication and the use of psychopharmaceuticals amid the crisis.
A report at that time gathered testimonials from specialists who described a significant rise in anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue, as many people turned to the informal market to obtain antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other medications.
The situation also affects the younger population. In early August, health authorities warned about the consumption of alcohol mixed with psychotropic drugs among teenagers and young adults in a community in Cienfuegos, which is further linked to episodes of violence and other risky behaviors.
This situation makes the hospital's call to get a good night's sleep particularly challenging for those living under constant power cuts that can last for much of the day and night.
The very testimonies spread in recent months describe entire nights without rest, heat, spoiled food, and a constant uncertainty about when electricity will return.
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