“Stress” is a word we hear around us every day. But what does it mean? Stress is the body’s response to physical, emotional and mental changes in our lives. Since changes happen all the time, stress is a normal part of our daily life. It can be caused by an upcoming exam, job interview, public speaking, traffic, family troubles, divorce, illness, infertility, financial struggles, the economic crisis in the country, and more. Stress raises hormones levels, increases heartbeat, prepares our muscles for action when we need to run or protect ourselves, it also motivates us. However, prolonged periods of stress can lead to harmful consequences, both physical and psychological. That is when it becomes extremely important to be able to ask for help, express your emotions, and have an ability to cope with stress.
Stress turns into a problem when it overwhelms us, and we become unable to focus and make decisions. But since stress is our reaction to certain circumstances and events, we can minimize stress by changing the way we think about such circumstances, and by learning different techniques which may help us cope with stress. Coping with stress is the ability to endure strong emotions, and live through stressful life events. Here are a few techniques, try and see which ones work best for you:
Self-soothing
Say to yourself something nice and kind to reduce the level of your fear or worries: “I can do it”, “I can handle it”, “Don’t worry, you will find a new job”, “I understand that I am not in the best situation, but I am doing my best”, “Next time I will do this much better”.
Relax with the help of external stimulus
- Smell: go for a nice walk, preferably in an uncrowded location, like a park or beach. Breathe in the fresh air slowly and deeply. Lit a scented candle or try aromatherapy with vanilla, lavender, ylang-ylang, or melissa essential oils.
- Sound: listen to your favourite music, or play a musical instrument.
- Sight: watch a movie, go to the art gallery, visit a museum, read a book.
- Touch: soak in a warm bath, go for a relaxing massage, do a workout or some yoga stretches or poses, play with your pet if you have one.
- Taste: drink a cup of your favourite tea or coffee, have some delicious meal or treat (try not to turn to junk food for comfort).
Get distracted
Distract yourself with an activity that requires some level of attention: do a crossword, clean the house, draw a picture, meditate, name all the colours in your surroundings. Another way to get distracted is to compare yourself with someone who is in a worse situation than you. By doing this you will reduce the intensity of your emotions which will make it easier to cope with stress.
Finding the meaning
When you find yourself in a difficult situation, try to find a positive side and a meaning in it. Stressful events can encourage you, push you to personal growth, and make your body develop a sense of control. It may be hard now but you will come out of this stressful period in your life stronger and wiser.
By practicing these techniques you will discover what works best for you, and learn to manage your reactions to stressful situations.
I feel like you were speaking directly to me in this post. You suggest some powerful strategies for coping with stress. I typically give myself pep talks or use music.
Thank you, Kimberlie. I am happy to hear you found this information helpful.