Effective ways to limit stress

Have you ever felt angry, sad, stressed, or even pressured? Honestly, we all have it at some point, and that's okay! It can either come from work, school, sports, or any other activity that you do. But what do you do to decompress? What's your coping strategy? I feel stressed most hours of the day. As a senior in high school, I’m constantly worried about my grades, scholarships, college, and many other things. But there are healthy ways that I cope with these stressors in my life. 

Coping strategies are the different ways that you help stop or minimize stress. People may use coping mechanisms to help with stress management or to cope with anger, loneliness, and even anxiety or depression. There are different coping strategies, such as support, relaxation, problem-solving, humor, and physical activity. What is your way of coping?

Support- Maybe talking about your stress to an outside trusted person to get an external point of view and to relieve you of the heavy shoulders of stress is the way you go

Relaxation—Perhaps meditating, reading, or even relaxing breathing exercises take your mind off the stress more.

Problem-solving- Or you're the type of person who likes to keep their brain moving so you seek out what is causing your stress and think of potential solutions to effectively manage that stress.

Humor- You could possibly be the type of person to make light of any situation and keep a positive attitude, think outside the box before the situation gets more stressful.

Physical activity- You just might be that person whose mind is cleared when going for walks, jogs, swimming, yoga, or dance. Many physical activities are great times for your mind to take a rest so you can focus on the topic at hand. Or perhaps you like the silence when you do them and it gives you time to think.

Finding an effective way to limit stress is a game changer. Studies show that 60% of younger people ages 18-24 experience more stress than the average adult., 41% of ages 25-34 compared to 17% of ages 45-54, and then 6% of adults over 55+. Stress can cause many things if not treated properly. Some short-term effects of untreated stress can lead to headaches, upset stomach, muscle tension, shortness of breath, and loss of appetite. Long-term effects of stress can lead to but are not limited to anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, hypertension, and even a heart attack or stroke.

Stress affects everyone, and what it looks like in a person varies from person to person. But having positive ways to handle stress could just save your life. If you or anyone you know has been affected by stress, talk to them. Sometimes, talking about the way you feel helps you find solutions. So next time you feel stressed or overwhelmed, think about how best to relieve it it healthy ways, and get centered back on what matters most.

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For more activities and ideas surrounding mental health, stress and more, check out sadd.org/programs.