Better Ways of Coping With Stressful Situations
Life can be full of challenges, be they related to money, health, relationships, or jobs. There are some stressful situations we can change: people walk away from toxic relationships or get new jobs. Other things we cannot change, such as the Covid pandemic.
When people feel overwhelmed they may overreact and lash out, or turn inwards and isolate themselves. Our relationships, jobs, and health may suffer if we are overstressed for prolonged periods of time. If we continue to react the same way we always have, nothing will change. Fortunately, there are new things we can do, and we’re going to discuss some of them right now.
Talk To Someone
Don’t keep everything inside. Share your worries with friends, family, or colleagues. They may be able to reassure you or provide fresh perspectives and ideas about your situation. In some instances, people need professional assistance with their anxieties. The registered counselors at Wellbeingcounselling.ca say people often need help to change the way they see themselves, other people, and the world around them. They require strategies so they can cope better with their lives. Many people look online for helpful articles as well.
Stop And Breathe
When someone begins to panic, they need to stop. It’s important to stand back from life and see the big picture. Try and think objectively rather than emotionally. It is for this reason that multitudes find mindfulness a helpful practice. By taking ten minutes out during the day, a person’s stress levels can be reduced. They will focus on the present moment, instead of past regrets or future anxieties. When people learn to observe their random thoughts rather than react to them, they begin to take control of their lives. They can choose to accept or reject the negative thoughts that come to mind.
When people are tense they often breathe in a shallow fashion. When we breathe through our mouth in this way, we risk muscle tension and reduce the effectiveness of our immune system. It’s important to sit and take deep breaths from the belly when anxious, breathing through the nose.
Watch Your Sleep, Diet, And Exercise
Sleep-deprived people become psychologically less able to cope with stressful circumstances. Maintain a strict routine of taking 7-8 hours of sleep a night, with regular bedtimes and getting up times. Eat healthy food, including fresh fruit and vegetables. Don’t comfort eat or go for junk food when you don’t feel like cooking. Highly processed food is high in sugar and fat, which affects our moods.
Take exercise for half an hour a day, five times a week. Cardiovascular exercise (e.g. brisk walking) is good for the heart and releases endorphins which make us feel happy and relaxed. If someone is angry over their circumstances they could consider running or boxing. Someone who can’t relax could consider pilates.
Change Your Perspectives
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is designed to help us identify the negative thoughts that make us feel stressed. Examples are ‘I can’t do this’ or ‘there is no solution’. Each time you get a recurring thought, replace it with a pre-decided sentence such as, ‘I can do this’ or ‘there is always a solution’. When we change our thoughts, our emotions change – and so do our behaviors.
We believe what we hear more than we think. Why not write down some positive confessions to declare, and stick them on a bathroom mirror or cards that you carry around with you. Use them daily to help rewire your mind.
Try Journalling
When people write down their thoughts and emotions it can help them understand things better. Why not start a journal and review the week’s entries once it’s over.
People who have lots of things to do should write them down before bed. That way they won’t keep going round their head all night, as they try to remember them all.
Gratitude journals are an amazing way to help people think differently. By writing down a few things they are grateful for each day, people train their minds to see the positives. It helps them become a ‘glass half full’ rather than a ‘glass half empty’ person.
Learn To Laugh
When people laugh at their circumstances it can defuse some of the pressure. This is because we take ourselves too seriously. It’s great to stand back and remember ‘it’s only life’. Some things we stress over today will be forgotten within 24 hours.
As we can see, there are many methods for tackling stress. When they all come together, a person is best placed to face each day. They will feel better, think more positively, and act in new and exciting ways.
