Everywhere you turn, stress is all around, and you don’t have to look any further than the ensuing global pandemic to see how stressful everyday life is. Being mindful of stress is important because it wreaks havoc on our minds and bodies, and since it isn’t going anywhere, we have to learn how to properly manage it, so it won’t have negative impacts on our health.
Identifying Stress In Your Life
Stress sneaks up on all of us, so it’s important to develop good coping habits to discourage the powerful, often negative effects it has on our bodies. Sometimes, you don’t even recognize stress impacting your life because it can manifest in so many different ways for different people. Having headaches, tearfulness, anxiety, disturbed sleep, feeling overwhelmed, feeling exhausted, or having a weakened immune system are all subtle signs that stress may be taking its toll. Knowing what to do with this stress is key to stopping these symptoms in their tracks and living a life filled with vitality again.
Finding Healthy Ways to Cope With Stress
It’s okay to feel stressed. We all do at times. It becomes not okay when we let stress build up too much, and it gets in the way of living the life we want to. Finding creative ways to deal with stress will help to naturally bring down your stress levels and let you enjoy life more in the process. Instead of having unhealthy ways to cope with the stress in your life like using drugs or alcohol, excessive caffeine, or sleeping too much or too little, try adopting some of these positive ways of handling stress.
- Practice meditation or other mindfulness techniques
- Develop good self-care and relaxation habits
- Healthy amounts of exercise (be mindful not to overdo it!)
- Seek professional help
- Re-evaluate your priorities
- Pause, take a breath and take time off if needed
- Talk about your issues and have any necessary conversations to confront an upsetting situation
- Seek support from trusted family and friends
- Listen to soothing music
- Reduce caffeine intake
- Don’t forget to laugh, have fun and use humor
Learning how to properly handle your stress as opposed to letting your stress control you will help to make you feel more in control of your life. Unmanaged stress can lead to mental and physical health problems, so always being mindful to support yourself through stressful times can ensure you stay healthy and happy. Avalon Malibu is one of California’s only certified primary mental health treatment facilities and can help give you the tools you need to overcome mental health challenges. At Avalon, we offer an integrated approach that blends both holistic and clinical therapies to set you up for treatment success. Call us today at (844) 857-5992 to find out how we can help you get back to living your best, most vibrant life.
