Everyone has stress. Some stress is even good for you. It can motivate you to succeed or provide just enough adrenaline to meet your impending deadlines. When your stress level gets too high, though, it can cause a lot of problems. Here are three ways to keep stress in check.
1. Get Professional Help
Therapy isn’t just for people who have diagnosed mental health conditions. A counselor can help you identify the sources of your stress and teach you practical methods for minimizing its effects. By seeking preventative care for your mental health Westchester County NY, you may be able to manage your stress levels so that they don’t lead to anxiety or depression.
2. Avoid Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
When you have had a particularly difficult day at work, coming home and relaxing in front of the television with a few glasses of wine may sound like an ideal way to spend an evening. The initial effect is likely to be soothing, but it’s not a long-term solution. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with the occasional indulgence, if you find yourself making a habit of using alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or other unhealthy habits to relax when you feel stressed, you may be doing yourself more harm than good.
3. Build Good Habits
Stress relief is more than just avoiding things that don’t help in the long run. It’s also important to build healthy habits that do help. Exercise releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in the brain, giving you a quick boost. A daily meditation practice can keep your thoughts and emotions in balance. End each day by listing five good things that happened that day or five things in your life for which you are grateful. Good habits yield positive long-term results.
Not all stress is detrimental to your health. The only time it becomes worrisome is when it gets out of control. Using appropriate stress reduction techniques helps you minimize potential negative effects.
