Amid a global pandemic, climate change, racial unrest and a 24/7 news cycle, self-care is no longer a luxury its a necessity.

Collective stress and anxiety have surged in 2020. Almost 50% percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 said theyve experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression this year, according to a June survey from the National Alliance on Mental Illness . Among those surveyed, women, Black and Latino Americans were more likely to be affected.

The impending election has also increased tension. According to a July 2020 report from the American Psychological Association , a majority of Americans said the current political climate was a significant source of stress in their lives.

Ive seen an increase in anxiety, depression, grief and loss in my clients this year, said Erin Scott, a New Jersey-based licensed professional counselor and owner of The Healing Space Counseling and Wellness Center . Health concerns, family issues, job losses and national news can all play a role.

I had an influx of clients who came to me this year as a result of everything happening with Black Lives Matter, said Beverley Andre, a licensed marriage and family therapist, creator of Your Favorite MFT and the owner of BeHeart Counseling Services , which specializes in work with Black and brown women and couples.

Many of them werent feeling safe in their workplaces because of the emotional and mental stress theyd been experiencing, she said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also heightened the intensity of many issues and events. We were forced to sit still and pay attention to things we might have otherwise ignored, Scott said.

Spending more time at home has led people to watch and read the news on an almost hourly basis, which Scott said can elevate stress, anxiety and grief.

On top of all that, many people have let go of their coping strategies, said Adolph Brown , a clinical psychologist, social justice advocate and motivational speaker. Without the ability to maintain a regular routine or see friends as usual, its easy to adopt habits that exacerbate any sadness or stress you might feel, he said.

To get by, many people have turned to self-care but not necessarily in the way youd expect.

How 2020 Is Further Changing The Concept Of Self-Care

The events of this year have altered many peoples personal definitions of self-care.

People used to talk about self-care in terms of pampering yourself, Brown said. But self-care today is more like parenting yourself.

Self-care used to be billed as a therapeutic spa experience complete with wine and candles, Andre said. But applying a face mask or taking a bubble bath pale in comparison to the real work you have to do to keep yourself physically, emotionally and mentally well in 2020.

Self-care is not a massage or a manicure, Brown noted. Its putting boundaries and limits on your behavior like a parent would.

That may look like eliminating interactions with a racist relative, for example, or making hard decisions about some people in your life. That may be turning off your computer at the end of the workday, even if you think you have more you can do. It might be turning down an important invite, even if it means disappointing someone.

Brown added that its also important to note that self-care is not toxic positivity, which he defined as avoiding what youre actually feeling for the sake of being positive. Acknowledging your feelings is now a vital, critical component of self-care even if its unpleasant. If you dont reveal it, you cant heal it, he said.

Practicing self-care in 2020 also means self-preservation, Andre said. It goes beyond nurturing or self-soothing; its a matter of survival, particularly for Black people and people of color.

Some people really feel like theyre at the end of their ropes right now, and that their lives are being compromised, Andre added, noting that because of that, the way people take care of themselves now is radically different.

That was the case for Margo Gabriel , a writer from Boston who recently moved to Lisbon, Portugal. The racial injustice in the U.S. was affecting her daily life and making it extremely difficult to focus on her work. Without the ability to travel, cook for loved ones or visit museums this year all previous forms of self-care for Gabriel her mental health started suffering.

What I have learned in 2020 is that self-preservation is paramount to the stability of my mental health, she said. My move abroad is the greatest act of self-preservation I could have done in my life.