The world is a stressful place nowadays, and with the ongoing economic problems, people are working harder than ever. It seems like ignoring those building feelings of stress and anxiety is the sensible thing to do, but in fact if these are not tackled head on, they can become a serious threat to your mental health.
In order to avoid getting to a stage where you feel overwhelmed by stress and unable to deal with it, there are simple steps you can take each time you feel the stress starting to build up. By remaining aware of your stress levels, you will safeguard your wellness against the physical as well as emotional effects of stress.
The first thing you can do is learn to breathe out unhelpful feelings and breathe in more tranquil ones. This is more a visualisation technique than anything else but, when done right, it can create a tremendous sense of wellbeing. In order to do this, stop what you are doing when you feel the symptoms of stress and concentrate on your breathing. Imagine that you are breathing out irritation, anxiety, frustration and anything else negative you are feeling and breathing in peace, inner balance and patience.
Another useful thing you can do is to stay away from drama or vexations. It can be tempting to get involved in disputes or problems that have nothing to do with you, but, where possible, you should instead take a step back and focus on your own mental health.
We are often our own harshest critics, and one major cause of stress is self-doubt and judging ourselves for our actions. Remember to be kind to yourself and trust that you have made the right decisions with the information you had. Try to connect to yourself on a spiritual level and literally imagine the self-doubt leaving your body and floating away.
Keep connecting to others on a warm, human level. It can be tempting in times of stress to shut yourself off and not expose yourself to vulnerability by opening up to people, but in fact sharing your problems and connecting with other human beings should reduce your stress levels. Reach out to others with the same kindness and support that you’d like to be offered yourself.
Finally, beware of the news. It’s great to know what’s going on in the world, but it can also be stressful. Remember that the news is not a true representation of the world around you, merely highlights of the most dramatic bits. Watch the news with an open and balanced mind and be aware of your own emotions, giving yourself a break from watching if you feel yourself becoming too emotionally invested.
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