The Best (& Worst) Things You Can Do When Coping With Stress

Life is never smooth. It throws curveballs time and again to test us. With these unexpected twists and turns, stress becomes our constant companion.

Stress is inevitable in the present time. According to reports by the American Institute of Stress, Americans are most hit by the ever-increasing stress. They are 20 percentage points more stressed than the global average.

But coping with stress is the need of the hour. The way we battle it impacts our mental well-being.

Buckle up as we explore the measures that we can explore to control stress. We will check what can work best and what can be best avoided for a less stressful life.

As per the report, yoga aids in the process of stress reduction. Yoga helps reduce stress through neurochemical release. Regular yoga practice has multiple biological mechanisms for reducing stress. It also reduces cortisol levels, leading to a decreased stress response.

It is an important technique for coping with anxiety. The steps involved are:

• Lie in a quiet place and rest your hands in your lap.
• Take a few slow, even breaths.
• Focus your attention on forehead, jaw, neck, shoulder and arms.
• Release the tension from your entire body.
• Enjoy the relaxation process and every bit of it.

Art is a form of expression. Even if you can barely draw, art is a fantastic way to reduce stress. As per the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 45 minutes of creative activity have proven to diminish stress levels.

Taking some time to enjoy this activity without considering the norms of “good art” can help. Fill in the colors and let your creative mind flow. One can start drawing what they feel. Draw emotions that they feel are hard to express. Revisiting your creations can bring you peace.

You are what you say. Say good things about yourself. Say statements such as:

• I am capable of achieving whatever I desire.
• I deserve to be happy.
• I have a beautiful life, and I am blessed with good things.
• It's an opportunity to learn something new.

Talking to yourself in a positive way helps you cope with hardships. When you practice this each day, your self-talk will be more accepting and compassionate.

Lifestyle is the sum total of diet, exercise, sleep, quality time and everything you do in your everyday life. Make sure that:

• Eat a balanced diet and include lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Have 7-8-hour sleep with a relaxing bedtime routine.
• Exercise daily, even if it is brisk walking, cycling, or yoga.

All these healthy lifestyle habits contribute to managing stress effectively. It helps to support the body’s natural resilience and gives it the strength to handle life's battles with greater ease.

Human for human. Reach out to your loved ones. They are a safe space. It can be in the form of an immediate family member or even a partner. Talk to them about the concern. Even if you do not get an immediate solution, you will be heard. Feeling heard and valued gives you the strength to cope with trauma and stress. It provides you with:

• Sense of belonging.
• Validation, if you seek.
• A different perspective to look at things.
• ⁠Strength to battle circumstances.

Stress coping mechanisms can be harmful to overall health. The negative coping mechanisms may help at this point. But they may worsen the condition in the long run. They must be avoided. Some of them are:

Alcohol may make you feel relaxed momentarily but the fatal effects of alcohol might be there for a lifetime. Alcohol disrupts your mood, behavior, or physical problems.

As per the American Stress Organization, 30% of US adults eat comfort food “more than usual.”. When confronted with a situation of stress, they overeat, which leads to health consequences in the long run.

The study also suggested that:

• During times of worry, eating fatty foods made arteries work less.
• When people were under a lot of stress, eating a lot of fat made oxidized hemoglobin drop by 39% in the prefrontal cortex. (This decrease makes it harder for the brain to do higher-level thinking.)
• Plant-based foods are full of vitamins and polyphenols that can help vascular cells work better.

So, one must be aware of what he puts in the body. Make a conscious choice to eat that will help you combat stress.

As per the study, perceived social isolation was associated with:

• Poor life satisfaction across all domains.
• ⁠Increased stress.
• ⁠more susceptible to depression and anxiety.
• Coping with trauma.

Spending time with family and friends who understand you and make you feel loved and valued can bring about a huge positive change. This will positively affect the mood and help with coping with depression.

In the hustle and bustle of life, stress cannot be eliminated, but it can surely be minimized.

The right mechanism for coping with the twists and turns of stress is the way to move forward. By embracing a positive mindset, a healthy lifestyle, and the right social circle, one can be ready to face the storm with greater ease.

One needs to make a conscious choice to prioritize self-care and resilience. Be ready to grant yourself kindness and emerge as a strong individual.

Life is a ride with ups and downs, but with the right approach, all ups and downs can be navigated with courage and grace.