Ten Tips To Reduce Chronic Stress

Ten Tips To Reduce Chronic Stress

Chronic stress, which is emotional pressure experienced for a prolonged period, affects more than 60% of people in the U.S. alone and is a significant cause of torn families across the globe. 

Prolonged stress can be caused by many factors, including your home life, work, financial difficulties, challenging relationships, as well as many other every day demanding situations, which can make you feel like you have little or no control over your life or situation. Stress is a serious condition that, if not dealt with, can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and various other mental health issues. 

Chronic stress doesn't just affect you, but everyone who is connected to you, including your children, which research shows is responsible for more than 1/3 of children's illnesses, including fevers, headaches, stomach aches, obesity, sleeplessness, and more. 

If you suffer from chronic stress, you don't have to live that way. There are at least ten things you can do to help manage emotional pressure and gain control of your life and help put yourself back on the track of a peaceful lifestyle.

Practice Mind Control - Stress begins with your perception of a situation, which can make you feel anxious or overwhelmed. Practicing mindfulness, also known as meditation, helps you focus on more positive thoughts, which helps keep your mind at ease. Meditation is a technique that uses breathing and thought exercises to create an awareness of your body and surroundings, which helps you live in the moment and leave negative thoughts at the door. This technique can be done anywhere, and anytime, you begin to feel stressed to help keep you remain in control. It can also be used at the end of the day to help you wind down and relax before bedtime, so you sleep better and are ready to face the next day. Research shows that people who practice the simple act of meditation report experiencing less stress, depression, and anxiety for improved overall emotional well-being. 

Take Time to Yourself - Research shows that taking even just 15 minutes alone each day allows you to connect with yourself, which can significantly improve how you manage stress and work through situations more effectively. Schedule some time in your day to disconnect and do something you enjoy, such as going for coffee or lunch by yourself. You might also want to try to create some time to reboot and focus, so you are better able to address your issues. 

Exercise - Research shows that exercise not only makes your heart stronger and improves its function, which helps keep your blood pressure in check, but it also increases the body's endorphins, which help lower stress. Choose a physical activity that you love and go for it! Experts suggest physical activity at least 30 minutes a day, three times per week, or more, for maximum results. 

Massage Therapy - Therapeutic Massage increases serotonin and dopamine production in the body, which, similar to endorphins, make you feel good. They also help keep your muscles pliable, which enables you to relax. Research shows that regular massage decreases cortisone, which is the body's stress hormone that prepares us to fight or flight. It also increases circulation, which is good for the heart, as well as white blood cell production for a stronger immune system. 

Talk to Someone - Having a reliable support system, such as family and friends who provide emotional strength, can help keep you positive and motivated during times of stress, which can help keep you focused and calm. 

Learn Your Triggers - Sometimes, no matter how you try to limit your exposure to stress. Of course, stressful situations are unavoidable, but being aware of the specific cause or causes of your stress can help you better develop coping strategies that help decrease its effect on you. 

Look at the Whole Picture - Many times when an unfortunate event occurs, it is easy to focus on the negative, which can leave you emotionally drained. By understanding there is a positive side to the picture that can be used to your advantage, it can help reduce your level of stress. 

Improve Your Planning - Research shows that improper planning is a major cause of stress because it renders you powerless over your situation. This often makes people feel hopeless and out of control. Stress can be managed through sufficient planning, which enables you to take action and control the situation the way you want. 

Know When You are Stressed - Stress affects people differently. Some thrive in stressful situations, while the same condition may cause another person to become overwhelmed. According to research, these differences can be attributed to variances in our personalities as well as other inborn traits, which causes each person to react differently during times of chaos. 

Professional Help - If you, or a loved one, are feeling overwhelmed by stress, then it may be time to see a doctor who may recommend therapy or counseling to help you cope. In some cases, they may even prescribe medication in addition to counseling and treatment to help get your life back on track. 

Over time, chronic stress can begin to affect your physical health as well as high blood pressure, which is typically associated with chronic stress, which can eventually lead to heart disease, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and more. It can also weaken the immune system, which can leave you more vulnerable to illness and disease. If you suffer from chronic stress, it is imperative to take steps to help understand how you can help your body minimize its exposure and live a healthier life. 

About the Author

Eugene Wood LMT is a leading Massage Therapist in Nassau County NY. Learn more about how massage therapy can help you improve your overall health and wellness by visiting his website at EuegeWoodMassage.com