Q: I cannot shake the feeling of worry – about my kid’s future, climate, the economy, war, politics, you name it. These are legit worries, so what can I do to feel better? — Greg T., Santa Fe, N.M.

A: You are expressing the kind of worries that are at the heart of a survey of 3,000 people ages 18 and older from the American Psychological Association (APA) called “Stress in America 2023: A Nation Recovering from Collective Trauma.” The APA says that the trauma of the pandemic has left many Americans vulnerable to more chronic health conditions and heightened anxiety about a wide array of personal and circumstantial factors.

The survey reports that folks ages 35 to 44 saw a 10% increase in chronic health conditions between 2019 and 2023, and in 2023, 45% of those surveyed said that they were contending with psychological distress compared with 31% in 2019. Even more startling: 48% people with children under the age of 18 say that, most days, their stress is completely overwhelming, compared to 26% of folks without younger kids.

We acknowledge that you cannot do a lot about a lot of stressors — money, work, war, climate — at least in the short term. But it’s important that you understand that you can do something about how you respond to stress.

To tamp down your stress response, cultivate a posse by reaching out to friends and building and strengthening relationships daily, as well as finding and following something you are passionate about that gives you a sense of purpose.

Other ways to modify your stress response include physical activity, meditation, quality sleep, and an anti-inflammatory diet that includes fatty fish (salmon burgers), poultry, fruits, vegetables, 100% whole grains, and healthy fats such as olive oil.

There are also supplements that may help improve sleep quality with a low risk of side effects, such as melatonin, 5-HTP, and L-theanine.