What is stress?
Stress is your body's response to a hard situation. Your body can have a physical, emotional, or mental response. Stress is a fact of life for most people, and it affects everyone differently. What causes stress for you may not be stressful for someone else.
A lot of things can cause stress. You may feel stress when you go on a job interview, take a test, or run a race. This kind of short-term stress is normal and even useful. It can help you if you need to work hard or react quickly. For example, stress can help you finish an important job on time.
Long-term stress is caused by ongoing stressful situations or events. Examples of long-term stress include long-term health problems, ongoing problems at work, or conflicts in your family. Long-term stress can harm your health.
Dealing with stress from life changes
Sometimes life feels manageable. And other times, life feels overwhelming—like when you are in the middle of a big change or challenge.
It's not always easy to imagine that things are going to get better. But they will change. And this is just one chapter of your life, a chapter that might help you learn and grow in unexpected ways.
You might feel like you don't have much control right now. But there are some small things you can control that could help your body or mind.
- Pay attention to sleep and exercise.
Good sleep and regular exercise can bring big benefits.
- Practice deep breathing.
It calms the nervous system and helps bring you back to the present moment.
- Accept things as they are.
Instead of asking "Why did this happen?" try asking "What can I learn from this?"
- Practice balanced thinking.
Instead of thinking "My life will never be the way it used to be," try thinking "This is going to be a challenge for a while. But I can learn to adapt and still enjoy my life."
- Do less.
Try to let go of things that aren't really necessary.
- Take a few minutes for you.
For example:
- Go for a walk.
- Take a relaxing bath or shower.
- Step outside and gaze at the sky.
- Read something funny.
- Listen to others who've been through something similar.
This could mean going to a support group. It could also mean reading or sharing stories on a blog or other online resource.
- Let yourself feel what you're feeling.
Ask a friend to just listen. As you talk, do your best not to fix, change, or judge your feelings.
- Talk with a counselor.
A counselor can be a great resource to help you get through a difficult time.
- Explore why you want to feel less stress.
It's important to think about why you want to feel less stressed. If you understand why you want something, it can increase your desire—and ability—to do it. So ask yourself these questions, and write down your ideas.
- Why do you want to experience less stress in your life?
- How would that change how you feel or change your day-to-day life?
What are some things you could try to lower stress in your life? What if you picked your favorite idea and committed to it—just for the next 2 weeks? Then you could see if it might be worth continuing, or if you want to try something else.
You probably know what's worked for you in the past. And that may help you know what could work now.
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