Coping Mechanisms: A Toolbox For When You’re Stressed
Since April is Stress Awareness Month, I want to provide tools and resources for those who are feeling overly stressed out. This will provide 5 tools/tips that are easy to refer back to and are simple in nature.
When Stress Is At An All-Time High
Stress happens to everyone, it’s a common human reaction to the situations and experiences we have on a day-to-day basis, but what makes stress impactful is not how we feel about stress but how we react to it. While some people tend to shut out the world around them, others fully throw themselves into activities to keep their mind off of stress. Whatever the coping mechanism might be, it’s clear that in our society talking about and treating stress is often placed on the back burner. We are sent subtle messages to not bring it up unless someone has finally reached their limit. Managing stress and living with stress are two different concepts that everyone deserves to know about.
But How Do I Know If I’m Stressed?
Stress doesn’t look the same on everyone, so figuring out when you are stressed and what your limit is can feel difficult. In a world where we are constantly told that being “on” and productive equals value, finding the strength to walk away from stressful situations can seem selfish or “weak”. Whether you are a full-time worker or a dedicated parent, or balancing somewhere in between, if you don’t take the time to properly manage the stress you are feeling then it will catch up to you in every area of your life. Deciphering whether your stress is “worthy” of taking a break should never be the answer; you are allowed relaxation in whatever form you choose to take it in, regardless of how much stress you’re under or how much work you need to get done. Rest is a necessary part of how our human wiring works.
It’s Time To Manage your Stress
The issue with how stress is recognized in society is not what kind of stress people are feeling or where the stress is stemming from, but rather the lack of empathy we feel to take care of ourselves when we are experiencing stress in our lives. It isn’t uncommon that when stress is brought up, people will downplay and disregard the very real consequences of how stress affects the mind and the body because they don’t see it as a real reason for rest. Because everyone feels stressed, everyone should be able to handle it under the same conditions, right? Wrong. Everyone is entitled to their form of escape from stress without fear of judgment that they are doing the wrong thing. Rather than letting stress bubble up until it’s reached its max limit, why not put your energy into finding new and effective coping mechanisms to help guide you through stressful times? This way, when you find yourself in the next stressful situation. You have a way of combating the symptoms, recognizing them for what it is, and moving forward with a clear mind and heart.
Your “Stressed Out” Toolkit
The largest hurdle to overcome when thinking about stress is not how to “fix it” but allowing yourself the time, space, and comfort to let go of your stress. Being stressed out on top of all your other responsibilities can be exhausting. You’ll have to constantly keep the balance of outside factors in your life, with very little room for you to take care of yourself. To stop stress in its tracks and help you break down the root problem of your stress, here are 3 ways in which you can acknowledge where you are hurting and push yourself in the direction of healing and moving past stress:
Pay Attention To Your Body: Tense shoulders, furrowed eyebrows, grinding teeth, wringing hands, and irritability are all physical ways to spot stress on the mind and body.
Make A List: Sometimes a simple list of all the things that are affecting you negatively both mentally and physically can open your eyes to new and simple solutions that your stress has been hiding from you
Reach Out To A Friend: Try finding a friend to help you through a hard time, a family member to remind you of how far you’ve come, or a coworker to aid you with a deadline. Outsourcing some of your pain and having a listening ear may help you ease your stress.
Engage in Play: Find fun, lighthearted, even playful things to do. Play is the first thing to go when we are burdened, and its the first thing we can bring back to tip the balance back.
Downgrade your Nervous System: Your nervous system needs a break. Take time to do anything the allows your nervous system to switch back into a calm and relaxed state. Some people find calm in walking outside, in exercise, taking a bath or shower, using sensory tools such as essential oils, weighted blanket, or soothing music. Your nervous system needs downtime even more when its in constant stress.
Stress Doesn’t Equal Strength
If you find yourself falling deeper into your stress without anyone to listen to or understand, we want you to know that we are here to help. At Rebecca Newton Therapy, we understand how isolating stress can be. We want to be your safe space and listening ear to whatever is causing chaos in your life. Please feel free to reach out and put yourself at ease.