Stress is capable of popping up from any direction, and it never rests. Look for treatments that help you deal with particular situations that cause anxiety. A proven method may cease to be effective, forcing you to try something new. Here’s some ways to control your stress today.
Being able to visualize calming imagery can help you deal with stress when it threatens to overwhelm you. Imagine that you are taking a hot shower, or watch as a huge wave of relaxation comes over your body and washes your stress away. You could also close your eyes, and imagine a wonderful place you would like to visit. Visualize yourself there, walking along a beach or enjoying any relaxing activity.
Stop grinding your teeth by consciously easing your jaw. Stress can be found in several parts of the body, but it is very common in the jaw. Whenever you are feeling particularly stressed, take a deep breath through your clenched jaw, and then relax it as you exhale. This should relieve some of the stress and help you feel better.
Stop saying the word “stress” so much; it does not help you! Think about it, when you tell yourself over and over that you are hungry, eventually you realize you are starving. The same idea holds true for stress. Saying the word or thinking the word will cause you to feel more of it, so do yourself a big favor and find another name for it!
One way to lower your stress level may be to spend time with pets. Researchers have discovered that physical contact with an animal can help relieve stress.
Analyze how you deal with stressful situations right now and your results can help establish if there are ways you can improve on handling it better. Try tracking your response to stressful events or situations over a period of several weeks. See whether or not your reactions to different situations can be improved. If your responses leave something to be desired, start cultivating new stress-handling measures to take better care of your day-to-day stress.
Push your wall as if it were a football sleigh to release some stress. The flexing of your hamstring muscles is an effective way to relieve stress.
Spending an intimate evening with your significant other can really be beneficial to your relationship and your stress levels. This will keep you in the moment and allow you to have fun with someone else. This can take your mind off of the worries of the past and future.
A long bath where you can just float away and relax is an amazing stress reliever. Light some candles, add some scented oil to the water, and then simply savor the moment. Play some calming music to soothe your soul or grab a book and let your mind wander away into a different world. A long, hot bath will work wonders for your stress level.
If you need to get away from the stress in your life, find a quiet place and indulge in a daydream. Imagine a place that you want to be and allow your mind to take you there. This daydreaming exercise is useful for disassociating yourself from stress for a short while.
Being honest can cut down on your stress and anxiety levels. It has been proven that even the smallest lie can lead to a great deal of guilt and increase stress in any relationship.
Forgiving others can allow you to live with less stress. Dwelling over the wrongs others have done to you will only serve to increase anxiety and irritability on an ongoing basis.
Orange juice or other citric snacks are useful for getting yourself calmed down. This vitamin can also help to prevent mild illness, such as a cough or cold.
Limbic System
One thing overlooked when dealing with stress is to remember to smile more. The movement of the muscles involved in smiling trigger action in the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center. Simply smiling will work to tilt the limbic system into a calmer state, and that is an excellent way to lower stress.
Take yourself out of the situation you’re in. Focus on peaceful thoughts and have confidence in your ability to take care of the situation in a positive manner, then move forward and do that.
Look forward to something. If you have something planned ahead of time, it will be easier to stop worrying about how you are feeling right at that moment. Some great ideas include obtaining tickets to a concert or purchasing movie tickets in advance.
Don’t be a yes-man; be a no-man instead. Always being the “yes” person can cause enormous stress! Work to differentiate between when you’re able to take on a responsibility, and when it is better to just say “no.” Keep in mind that you are making the right choice if you feel bad about turning people down.
If you stay well-hydrated throughout the day, the water will flush out toxins from your body, and help you cope with difficult times without the feeling of a lot of stress. Drinking at least a liter every day is a good idea to keep your body hydrated and ward off stress.
Shallow breathing causes stress to your body, including important organs such as the heart and lungs. Slow, deep breathing can help to relax you better and you should do some of it every day. Learn specific breathing techniques to help you cope and remind yourself to slow down during stressful moments and take deep breaths. Now, slow down and breathe deeply.
Always think positive, despite what is frustrating you in life. Negative thoughts can make you feel even worse. When you can solve one issue, another will come up. You should live a positive life so that you may focus on the good in your life and less on your stress.
Getting stress to the point where it doesn’t affect you that much, takes a lot of preparation and a lot of soul-searching. It’s possible, if you keep in mind that you control your thoughts and that stress is only a visitor. Don’t let stress stay and you’ll be a happier person very soon.