How to deal with stress

Stress happens and it's uncomfortable. Life throws us many curve balls and sometimes it feels like we can't catch a break. Stress shows up for people differently and what one person finds stressful the other doesn't.  There is no one-size-fits-all response to stress. Some people might experience physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and restlessness,while others might experience psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and feeling frustrated. Another person may break down crying, another may keep trying to finish multiple tasks, and anotherBeing

Here are 5 ways to deal with stress when it comes knocking. 

1. Keep in mind that this too shall pass. What you are experiencing right now whether that be car problems, financial setbacks, work burnout, breakup, moving, grief and loss, divorce, etc. No matter what struggle you are experiencingthrough know that within time it will pass. What you are stressed about today won't be a stressor a year from now. 

2. Tell yourself that you have more control over your life than you think you do. In spite of the circumstance in which we find ourselves, we are always able to control the thoughts, emotions, and actions that we take. Even though you might not be able to control the actions of others, you can control the way those actions affect you and how you respond to them. 

3. Make sure you move your body as much as possible. Have you ever felt worse after exercising or walking?Chances are not because exercising is healthy for our bodies. Moving our bodies can reduce physical stress and increase endorphins. Before you sit down for another hour sulking about your negative situation, get up and take care of your body. Exercise can provide mental clarity, which can be helpful when making decisions. Instead of doing things impulsively, walk them out.

4. Talk to a mental health professional. Mental health professionals could be a psychiatrist or a licensed marriage and family therapist. If you are experiencing stress on a daily or weekly basis and you have noticed the negative impact it has on your body and mind, you could benefit from seeing a therapist. When you are in therapy you can talk about your problems and learn alternative ways of dealing with them. Therapists are an excellent support system and present a non-biased and judgment-free approach. Where you live could play a role on what type of therapist is available to you but if you live in a city such as Campbell, CA or San Jose, CA you can do therapy face-to-face or virtual anywhere in California.

5. Handle one thing at a time. When stress hits us it can appear like it's one event after another. However, if we take a step back and focus on what is in our control and how we can address the situation it reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed. We often feel like no matter what happened we have to keep doing a million other tasks and then find ourselves feeling even more frustrated. Don't sulk at what is beyond your control and give yourself a timeout to remind yourself to take things one step at a time. 

Talk to a therapist to deal with stress

We can never escape stress but we can manage it. When we are constantly stressed our bodies and mental health suffer. Ifyou feel that you need additional support talk to your psychiatrist, therapist, or doctor for professional advice. Speaking to a therapist or another mental health professional might feel nerve-wracking, but they are the last people in the world tojudge you and are equipped to help you.  With the right tools and support, managing stress is not impossible.

Nothing negative that happens to you will keep you from succeeding in life. You will overcome whatever you go through or how anxious and down you feel. Take advantage of these five tips the next time you are experiencing stress and you will see a difference. Despite your trials and tribulations, you are meant to do remarkable things. A difficult day doesn't have to mean a difficult life.