Stress Awareness Month has been recognized each April since 1992 to increase awareness of the causes of stress, as well as how to cope with it. Between the pandemic and current events as of the last few years, it is more crucial than ever to learn how to reduce stress in our day-to-day lives. In this article, we will discuss different methods for coping with stress to promote a healthy mindset. Keep in mind, everyone experiences stress differently and must find methods that work best for the individual. Give these methods a try and see what works best for you!
According to the CDC stress can cause the following:
- Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
- Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Nightmares or problems sleeping
- Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, or skin rashes
- Worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions
- Increased use of alcohol, illegal drugs (like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine), and misuse of prescription drugs (like opioids)
Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress
- Adjust your nutrition: intake fruits, veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk. Eating right will reduce saturated fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.
- Go to bed and get up on a set routine, even on the weekends. Adults require 7-8 hours of sleep a night, without it your body can’t tolerate stress as well as it could.
- If you sit a lot for work or school, try stretching or taking small breaks to move around, every bit of physical activity helps!
- Deep breathing exercises, yoga or meditation. There are plenty of apps out there if meditation doesn’t come naturally to you or if you require a guided session. Relaxation methods such as these activate a state of restfulness.
- Limit your alcohol intake.
- Avoid using prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed to you, as well as illegal drugs.
- Avoid smoking and other tobacco products.
- Make time to decompress with an activity you enjoy.
- Talk to trusted people in your life about your concerns and feelings. If this makes you uncomfortable consider seeing a counselor or therapist instead.
- Embrace a companion animal, clinical studies show that even a small amount of time with a pet can cut anxiety levels in half.
- Take a vacation to give your brain a break, getting away from your day-to-day can reset your stress tolerance.
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