How to Deal with Stress

Stress is an overwhelming feeling that tenses your emotions and physical well being. It is caused by events that make you feel nervous, frustrated, or even angry. It is your body’s natural reaction to demands or challenges. Stress can sometimes motivate you, but most of the time, it drains your productivity.

So when you feel stressed, it is best to discover the underlying cause and find how to deal with stress in a healthy way Mary from LiveTray suggests.

In today’s competitive world, it is hard to pin-point the exact causes of stress. They vary from person-to-person, and the intensity also differs. But some of the common causes are stress are:

• Loss of dear ones
• Relationship failures
• Obligations
• Job dissatisfaction
• Financial crisis
• Change in environment
• Chronic illness or injury
• Mental problems, such as depression, anxiety, anger, etc.
• Traumatic events
• Divorce, marriage
• Social obligations

Numerous other reasons could lead to stress. It could be one or a combination of one or more of the above causes.

Understanding stress is part of life

The first step to dealing with stress is to understand that everyone goes through it at some point in their lives. Some deal with it every day, while others have a harder time coping with it. Since everyone’s coping mechanism is not the same, it can sometimes lead to overwhelming emotions and isolation.

It is necessary to understand that stress is a part of life, and how we handle it greatly determines our story. So once you identify this, it will ease the coping process.

Clearing perspective

The next step is to have a clear view. Stress can deter your judgment and weaken your motor skills. To avoid that, you need to hold yourself together and try to grasp the cause of the problem. You can do this by taking a day or a few minutes off from whatever you think is stressing you.

Isolating yourself from your problem and introspecting your approach will give you a clearer perspective. It is not always easy, but it works. You can gain a better understanding and find ways to deal with daily stress by following the next step.

Take care of physical health

Physical weakness can often lead to mental instability. As your body is weak, much of your mental energy goes to repair your health issues, which causes your brain to clutter. Once you feel physically rejuvenated, you will have a better coping mechanism.

Take a walk, meditate, change your diet, or just pamper yourself. Do anything that makes you feel good about your health and the way you look. It might be a small step, but it makes a massive difference because once you take care of your physical health, your mentality changes too.

Choosing healthy coping skills

Dealing with stress takes time to see the permanent result. While some types of stress are immediate, others are more complicated and recurring. So the only way to deal with stress is to find a healthy coping skill so that you can handle it in any situation.

Choosing healthy food over junk food, staying hydrated, practicing a little cardio workout, etc. are some permanent coping skills you can use anywhere. You can also choose to be around people who make you feel happy, pick a hobby to distract yourself, or talk to someone who might have faced the same challenges.

Balancing solitude with social activity

Another way to deal with stress is to restore your social time with solitude. Being surrounded by people all the time can sometimes get overwhelming even if you are not aware of it. On the other hand, too much alone-time can also fill you with stressful thoughts.

Know when you should be alone and how much time you spend with others. Peer pressure is another major cause of stress, so make sure you have enough time to gather your thoughts once in a while.

Seeking creativity

Too much stress can cause you to make poor life decisions. So you must indulge in an activity that will challenge your creativity to keep you distracted. Do something that outside your routine, but make sure it soothes you. You can, but your stress out in writing or singing, or you can transfer that energy into running, walking, hiking, or even dancing.

Whatever you pick, make sure it is something that you like to do and where there are no time obligations. Pick a creative activity that you can do at your own time, by your own rules.

Looking for the silver lining

The worst part about stress is being stuck at the moment. Once you allow yourself to lie in self-pity and remain there for too long, it gets harder to pick yourself up. So when you are stress, take a moment to look for the silver lining.

For example, if your deadline is stressing you out, think about the outcome and reward you will receive after finishing the task. Always seek pleasure after facing the cause of your stress, and not what if you avoid it.

Lastly, don’t forget that you are mentally stronger than you think, and enduring daily stress can motivate you. And sometimes, when it gets too overwhelming, speak up or speak to someone who can help you feel better. You can also seek professional help through therapy and counseling if all else fails.