Let Go of Stress
I want to share with you some easy tips that I have offered to my clients who come to me for counseling in Asheville, NC.
Your body is brilliant. When faced with a threat it prepares you to fight or run away. This process is called the “fight or flight” response. Our emotional reactions to situations trigger the fight or flight response so that in many individuals it is set off several times a day. Often, each response often lasts much longer than your body can easily handle. This creates wear and tear on the body. According to research conducted by the Mayo Clinic, the end result is that your body is more susceptible to health ailments such as infections, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, depression, insomnia, and memory impairment.
How to Calm Stress
Breathe. Breathing can slow down your thoughts and give you more clarity. It also helps you to be more focused in the present moment, instead of ruminating about the past or worrying about the future.
Make-up a reason that feels good. For example, if your boss is grumpy, instead of worrying about why your boss is grumpy and thinking, “What if she is grumpy because I did something wrong?” Make up a reason that feels better, such as, “Maybe she didn’t sleep well last night.” This is a much more palatable thought and less stress provoking.
Learn to say no. Doing something for someone when you don’t want to, because you believe you will feel guilty if you say “no” to them, is not a healthy foundation from which to offer assistance. Instead, saying “no” when you don’t want to do something or don’t have the time to do it can be an empowering experience. The result is that you reduce your stress and build your self-respect.
Ask for help when you need it. Asking for and accepting help is not a sign of weakness. Instead, getting help with a task often completes it more quickly and easily. Also, talking to a qualified therapist can be valuable for gaining a different perspective on a situation in your life, and finding solutions for increasing your well-being.
Acceptance. Accepting “what is” helps to reduce stress, whether that is accepting how you are feeling, the fact that it is a rainy day, or that your computer isn’t working. If you let go of needing the current, perceived problem to be some way other than it is, and you accept the fact that in the moment you can’t change it, at least not instantly, you will feel calmer. Moreover, and the answers to solutions often come more easily when you give up struggling.
Take quiet time for yourself. Sitting quietly and breathing, taking a quiet walk, writing in your journal, and listening to your thoughts and feelings are important. When you are too busy to notice how you are feeling inside, that is an easy way to create stress. By listening to your feelings and paying attention to them, you will be less likely to act out impulsively from them. Being more aware of what is going on inside reduces reactivity and enhances conscious choices about your thoughts and behaviors.
Deborah Barnett, Ph.D.
Positive Psychology in Asheville, NC
Phone Coaching for Personal Growth and Relationship Success
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