Keeping your stress in check can be a difficult task. Everyone struggles with being stressed out at one time or another. Some people know how to manage their stress better than others, though. The key is to manage stress in a healthy way so that it does not overwhelm you. Stress is natural, but too much bad stress can take a toll on your mind and body. Continue reading for more information about keeping your stress in check.
Eustress Versus Distress
Almost anything can trigger a stress response within you. How you handle the stress is important. Not all stress is bad, though. Eustress is good stress that can help motivate you to complete your goals. When this stress becomes overwhelming and all-encompassing, however, is when a problem begins to arise. Distress is negative stress that can keep you from completing your goals and wreak havoc on your health. How you respond to stress can also determine the type of stress that will follow. Do you react with level-headedness? Are you calm and can see clearly? Or do you freak out at the first sign of discomfort and your whole day is thrown off? It’s important to notice how you react so that you can keep your stress in check.
Why Should I Keep My Stress in Check?
Your health and well-being depend on feeling safe. If stress continues long-term, it can impact your health and well-being in a negative way. Managing your distress can ease your mind and keep you feeling calm. With this mood boost, your immune system also gets a boost. Your physical health is also impacted. Long-term stress can lead you down the path of serious health conditions, including heart disease.
Tips to Keep Calm
- Exercise We know that exercise can help your physical health, but getting out into the fresh air and exercising can do wonders for your mental health. It provides a safe place for your emotions and stress to go.
- Eat healthy Food is fuel. When you fuel your body, you’re nourishing your mind. This helps keep your body level when you’re feeling stressed.
- Don’t isolate Isolation doesn’t help your mental health. If you’re feeling stressed, try to surround yourself with good friends or family. If you can’t make time for human interaction, spend time with your pet. They can help decrease stress as well.
- Practice mindfulness Mindfulness is a technique that helps you focus on the present moment and release the outside stress you’re feeling. By practicing mindfulness, you can let go of some of the stress you’re feeling.
- Ask for help Asking for help when you need an extra layer of support can be one of the bravest things you can do for yourself. By doing this, you remind yourself that you are not alone. This, in and of itself, can help release the weight off of your shoulders.
Arbor Behavioral Healthcare is here to help you manage your stress during your recovery. Call us today at 844-413-2690. We want to help you!