Ways To Deal With Daily Stress

Most of us have been there. Everyday chores, relationship problems, money troubles, work issues, and health scares can add up to a lot of stress in a single day.

What if we could find ways to reduce the amount of worry in our lives? Would you give it a try? Here are 5 proven methods for beating stress:

Take a moment to breathe

When we’re stressed, we tend to hold our breath, and the shallow breathing that results in can increase tension and anxiety. According to Dr. David Anderson at Stanford University School of Medicine, this type of breathing is unnatural and makes it difficult for our bodies to deal with stress appropriately.

When we feel tense, Anderson suggests taking a deep breath. His breathing technique is to inhale through the nose slowly and deeply, filling the belly with air. The breath should last around six seconds; if it’s any shorter or longer, you’re probably not breathing deeply enough. Then exhale slowly through your mouth (counting to six again) until all the air has come out.

If you can’t get there in six seconds when you first start, don’t worry. Just do it as long as possible, and work your way up to more breaths and a longer time frame.

Eat something sour

When we’re stressed, many of us turn to comfort foods like doughnuts, french fries, and ice cream. While these foods might make us feel better in the short term, they can actually make our problems worse by adding to our weight and increasing our risk of diabetes and heart disease.

According to Dr. Natalia Rose, founder, and director of the Tummy Temple women’s health center, studies show that sour foods can help reduce stress.

Repeat a mantra

It’s easy to get caught up in the things we can’t control. But by repeating a helpful statement or mantra, we can help put our problems and worries into perspective and take back some of the power they have over us.

According to Dr. David Anderson, it doesn’t even matter what your mantra is as long as you believe it and it’s positive. Rose suggests that mantras can help reduce stress by helping us:

·     Stay calm and relaxed when we’re upset

·     Put things into perspective and realize that life is not as bad as we think it is

·     Focus on the present moment to prevent anxiety about the future

·     Keep ourselves from dwelling on our problems

Exercise

When we’re stressed, it’s easy to let the physical activities that we enjoy slide because they feel like a hassle. But studies show that exercise can help reduce stress by releasing endorphins (chemicals in the brain) and making us feel better about ourselves. It can also help clear up our minds so that we can think more clearly and focus on the things that are causing us to feel stressed.

Find online therapy for help

You can help reduce stress by finding a therapist or counselor that specializes in addressing issues related to feelings of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ADHD, anger management problems, and more. These are all common causes of distress in anyone’s life. Mental health services online can help you when you are in need of professional consultation, assessment, and diagnosis to determine the cause of your distress.

Online therapy also offers convenience by allowing you to go through sessions from the comfort of your own home. And many therapists offer affordable rates for their services. So if stress is taking a toll on your life, don’t let that stop you from seeking professional help. Many people could benefit from counseling, and visiting a therapist is not a sign of weakness or inadequacy. It’s simply a way to take back control over your mental health and well-being.

Conclusion

Stress is a common experience for people of all ages. The good news is that there are many things you can do to help yourself feel less stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed today. And if stress has been bothering you for some time, online therapy could be the answer.

If your symptoms are beyond what you can deal with on your own, it’s time to talk to a therapist about the specific issues you are struggling with. They can help ease your symptoms, teach you new coping skills, and make sure that you’re getting better.