4. Talk to a Friend
While there are many reasons you may not already be talking to a friend about your stressors, whether they are embarrassing, work-related, especially personal, or you don't have a friend you think is interested, realizing how helpful this can be may outweigh those reasons for not sharing. Risking getting bad advice from an uncaring friend is even worth it when simply giving an overview of your situation out-loud can help you organize the information and gain perspective. Maybe when you consider talking to a friend about your problems you think "This isn't important enough to complain about." Perhaps that's true: and realizing this will no doubt reduce your stress. A friend may not be very validating if they say "what are you so worried about?", but they can help you gain perspective. More serious or private problems work the same way with a therapist.
3. Avoid Stressful Situations
If you know that certain events, people or places normally cause you stress, do your best to avoid them if possible. If you can not completely avoid being in the situation that causes stress, one way to keep stress minimal is to take breaks as needed. Find some quiet time at home or during a break at work can be just what you need to refuel and be ready to face the situation again.
2. Breathe Deeply
Breathing with your diaphragm (moving your stomach in and out instead of moving your shoulders up and down) will not only relax you psychologically and let your brain know you are in a safe place, but it will lower your heart rate, open your blood vessels, and actually be good for your overall health- instead of reducing stress and just not being detrimental to your health.
1. Don't Ignore It
Your body will tell you when you are stressed. Everyone responds to stress uniquely: some people get sick when their stress level increases. Other easily agitated or angry.
You already know your own body's signs that you are stressed on some level; get to know your own signs of being pushed too far stress-wise and then PAY ATTENTION. Instead of ignoring these signs, watch them and take decisive action to eliminate stress from your life.
While there are many reasons you may not already be talking to a friend about your stressors, whether they are embarrassing, work-related, especially personal, or you don't have a friend you think is interested, realizing how helpful this can be may outweigh those reasons for not sharing. Risking getting bad advice from an uncaring friend is even worth it when simply giving an overview of your situation out-loud can help you organize the information and gain perspective. Maybe when you consider talking to a friend about your problems you think "This isn't important enough to complain about." Perhaps that's true: and realizing this will no doubt reduce your stress. A friend may not be very validating if they say "what are you so worried about?", but they can help you gain perspective. More serious or private problems work the same way with a therapist.
3. Avoid Stressful Situations
If you know that certain events, people or places normally cause you stress, do your best to avoid them if possible. If you can not completely avoid being in the situation that causes stress, one way to keep stress minimal is to take breaks as needed. Find some quiet time at home or during a break at work can be just what you need to refuel and be ready to face the situation again.
2. Breathe Deeply
Breathing with your diaphragm (moving your stomach in and out instead of moving your shoulders up and down) will not only relax you psychologically and let your brain know you are in a safe place, but it will lower your heart rate, open your blood vessels, and actually be good for your overall health- instead of reducing stress and just not being detrimental to your health.
1. Don't Ignore It
Your body will tell you when you are stressed. Everyone responds to stress uniquely: some people get sick when their stress level increases. Other easily agitated or angry.
You already know your own body's signs that you are stressed on some level; get to know your own signs of being pushed too far stress-wise and then PAY ATTENTION. Instead of ignoring these signs, watch them and take decisive action to eliminate stress from your life.
--Effie's Psych
No comments:
Post a Comment