Im Here If You Want To Talk
Last but CERTAINLY not least. Letting someone know that youre available to talk opens up a safe space for them to share what theyre going through.
In these circumstances, as important as it is to listen, its also important to not interrupt. Sometimes all they need is a good rant, and they wont get that if youre chiming in every two seconds. Try to hold onto your questions or comments until the end. Do your best to figure out how to be a better listener.
Weve all been there. Stress is a part of being human. With these tips, youll be better equipped to support colleagues, friends, loved ones, and yourself when tough times come around.
Cut Out Things That Add To Your Stress
Sometimes, the best way to reduce your stress is to cut something out of your life. Get rid of the things that are adding to your stress so you can experience more peace.
Watching the news, being constantly connected to your digital devices, drinking alcohol, and consuming too much caffeine are just a few of the things that may add more stress to your life. Making some changes to your daily habits could be instrumental in helping you feel better.
How To Reduce Relationship Stress
Your connection is key when it comes to stress and relationships. It feels really good when you and your partner are on the same page emotionally. Theres nothing like a close emotional bond where each of you can lean on each other through trials and tribulations. While relationship stress might strike every couple at some point, you can choose to soothe each others hearts and practice constructive ways to help each other.
Support your partner
When your partner is undergoing stress, they may become aloof or agitated and may withdraw emotionally or even physically. This can leave you feeling lonely and vulnerable like youre alone or unappreciated in your relationship. Your instinct in this situation may be to withdraw as well and to treat your partner the way they are treating you. This will not solve anything youre reacting instead of thinking and punishing your partner instead of supporting them. This only erodes trust and exacerbates your relationship stress, particularly if its a behavior you engage in often.
Rather than giving in to the desire to let them see how it feels and adding to the negative tension within the relationship, take a step back and show some compassion not just for your partner, but for yourself. By tending to your own needs during times of relationship stress, you will be stronger, more secure and better equipped to be the anchor that your partner needs.
Offer to help
Improve your communication skills
Listen beyond the words
Team Tony
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Stop Focusing Only On Your Weaknesses Instead Of Your Attractive Qualities
True confession: I hired a pleasure coach to help me experience more pleasure in my life. Sure, some may call her a sex coach , but what I wanted was some support with enjoying myself and my life. I just wasnt having any fun, and I was more focused on what I thought was wrong with me than what was really right.
Every week for 12 weeks, she had me look at myself in a mirror, like, directly lookwith clothes and without. This initially was like slow torture and I avoided my homework assignment as much as possible.
Then, something remarkable happened in week eight. I was avoiding my homework assignment by making my dog do it , and lo and behold, I snuck a glimpse of myself and I was awestruck by the gorgeous woman staring back at me.
Give yourself the gift of seeing yourself clearly: you will be amazed by what you discover! And this free you from stress.
Lend A Helping Hand To Your Stressed Out Friends
When your friend is stressed out, you are the person they can rely on the person to offer a shoulder for them to lean on. Failing them during this difficult time is the last thing you would want to happen. The memory that you helped them get back to their feet will forever remain with them. Which is the reason why you should gather all the information you need to offer the help and be a friend indeed.
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How Can I Help
You: Can I help you with anything?
Them: No, Im ok. Thanks.
You: Alright, let me know.
I think weve all experienced this exchange before. Instead of asking if you can help, try asking how you can help. This rephrases the question and makes it easier for them to visualize different ways you could be there for them.
It also lets them know that youre willing to help in any way they need. If they need someone to switch their laundry, thats you. If they need someone to read over their project, thats you. If they need someone to get them ice cream, thats you.
Save Your Relationship From Stress
Learn how to recognize and solve relationship stress Posted by:Team TonyHow does your relationship normally function? Most likely, you and your partner get along and are able to thrive together. But what happens when something goes wrong, and one or both of you begin to feel stressed out? How does stress affect relationships, and what can you do to strengthen your partnership against lifes inevitable stressors?
Relationship stress can take a toll on the strongest of bonds. When you begin to think My relationship is stressing me out, there is the potential for distance, disagreements and disconnection between you and your partner. But by offering a steady supply of support for your partner when they are stressed, not only can you learn how to deal with stress and relationships, youll also create a new level of intimacy that actually brings you both closer together.
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Simple Ways To Relieve Stress And Anxiety
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Stress and anxiety are common experiences for most people. In fact, 70% of adults in the United States say they feel stress or anxiety daily.
Here are 16 simple ways to relieve stress and anxiety.
Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to combat stress.
It might seem contradictory, but putting physical stress on your body through exercise can relieve mental stress.
The benefits are strongest when you exercise regularly. People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety than those who dont exercise .
There are a few reasons behind this:
- Stress hormones: Exercise lowers your bodys stress hormones such as cortisol in the long run. It also helps release endorphins, which are chemicals that improve your mood and act as natural painkillers.
- Sleep: Exercise can also improve your sleep quality, which can be negatively affected by stress and anxiety.
- Confidence: When you exercise regularly, you may feel more competent and confident in your body, which in turn promotes mental wellbeing.
- Try to find an exercise routine or activity you enjoy, such as walking, dancing, rock climbing or yoga.
Activities such as walking or jogging that involve repetitive movements of large muscle groups can be particularly stress relieving.
Bring Positivity Into The Balance
Its human nature to spend more time and energy on the negative events in our life than we do the positivebut this keeps us stuck in survival mode. In order to truly thrive, we have to mindfully bring more positivity into our lives. So, once your loved one has found a place of calm, help them shift their thinking to the positive. Have them list three things they are grateful forthere is no wrong answer, and nothing is too small to qualify. Bonus points for writing it down. To help prevent future anxiety, encourage your loved one to make it a habitbeyond reducing stress, the scientifically-proven benefits of this practice range from better sleep to improved self-esteem.
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Finding The Right Words In A Stressful Situation
Stressful situations arent supposed to be easy. If youre trying to help a loved one work through their own anxious feelings, you have an opportunity to say the right thing. These messages above are a kind, thoughtful way to respond without increasing their stress.
Nobody likes to be told to stay calm or move on. No matter how simple the situation seems from the outside, feelings are valid in their own way. Be mindful of your own response and be a strong listener. As long as youre focusing on acknowledging their experience and feelings, youre making a positive step in the right direction.
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Stressed Or Depressed Know The Difference
If you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, you are not alone it’s practically a fact of life on college campuses. A poll conducted by mtvU and the Associated Press in the spring of 2009 reported that 85% of students say they experience stress on a daily basis.
Stress is good if it motivates you but it’s bad if it wears you down. Many factors can contribute to the stress you experience, and this stress can cause changes in your body that affect your overall physical, mental, and emotional health.
Depression is more serious and long-lasting than stress, and requires a different kind of help. In a 2010 survey by the American College Health Association, 28% of college students reported feeling so depressed at some point they had trouble functioning, and 8% sought treatment for depression.
The good news is that depression is a highly treatable condition. However, it’s not something you can snap out of by yourself, so it’s important to get help. How do you tell the difference between stress and depression? Both can affect you in similar ways, but there are key differences. Symptoms of depression can be much more intense. They last at least two weeks. Depression causes powerful mood changes, such as painful sadness and despair. You may feel exhausted and unable to act.
Here are common signs of stress and depression. Which fits you best?
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Job Loss And Unemployment Stress
Losing a job is one of lifes most stressful experiences. Its normal to feel angry, hurt, or depressed, grieve for all that youve lost, or feel anxious about what the future holds. Job loss and unemployment involves a lot of change all at once, which can rock your sense of purpose and self-esteem. While the stress can seem overwhelming, there are many steps you can take to come out of this difficult period stronger, more resilient, and with a renewed sense of purpose.
Snack On Blueberries Turkey Or Dark Chocolate
What you eat can have a significant effect on your mood.
Blueberries, in particular, can give you a boost of “a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in immunity, critical for countering stress,” Cynthia Sass, Health’s contributing nutrition editor, said.
“The antioxidants and phytonutrients found in berries fight in your defense, helping improve your body’s response to stress and fight stress-related free radicals,” registered dietitian Heather Mangieri, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Health magazine.
Turkey, avocado, and dark chocolate are some other foods that can make you feel less stressed, according to Health.
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Helping Children And Youth Cope With Stress
Children and youth often struggle with how to cope with stress. Youth can be particularly overwhelmed when their stress is connected to a traumatic eventlike a natural disaster, family loss, school shootings, or community violence. Parents, caregivers, and educators can take steps to provide stability and support that help young people feel better.
Focus On One Thing At A Time
Work, appointments, groceries, bills. When you start thinking about everything you have to get done, its very easy to get overwhelmed. Instead, remind them to focus on one thing at a time. Suddenly their list becomes more manageable and they can focus their attention on finishing one task before worrying about any others. If one thing at a time is too much, they can try one hour at a time or even one minute at a time.
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Learn To Identify The Signs Of Stress
Again, because not all people will directly share that they are stressed, it can be important for you to recognize the signs of stress in your partner. Many times, this will be signaled by a change in habits something that you will be good at detecting because you know your partner so intimately.
Changes in eating or sleeping habits, recurrent headaches or stomach aches, inability to concentrate or complete tasks are some of the issues we start hearing about when stress is present, explains Cynthia Catchings, an LCSW from Virginia. If you recognize these signs in your partner, be aware that stress may be the cause.
Listen To Soothing Music
Listening to music can have a very relaxing effect on the body.
Slow-paced instrumental music can induce the relaxation response by helping lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as stress hormones.
Some types of classical, Celtic, Native American and Indian music can be particularly soothing, but simply listening to the music you enjoy is effective too .
Nature sounds can also be very calming. This is why theyre often incorporated into relaxation and meditation music.
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How Much Stress Is Too Much
Because of the widespread damage stress can cause, its important to know your own limit. But just how much stress is too much differs from person to person. Some people seem to be able to roll with lifes punches, while others tend to crumble in the face of small obstacles or frustrations. Some people even thrive on the excitement of a high-stress lifestyle.
Factors that influence your stress tolerance level include:
Your support network. A strong network of supportive friends and family members is an enormous buffer against stress. When you have people you can count on, lifes pressures dont seem as overwhelming. On the flip side, the lonelier and more isolated you are, the greater your risk of succumbing to stress.
Your sense of control. If you have confidence in yourself and your ability to influence events and persevere through challenges, its easier to take stress in stride. On the other hand, if you believe that you have little control over your lifethat youre at the mercy of your environment and circumstancesstress is more likely to knock you off course.
Your attitude and outlook. The way you look at life and its inevitable challenges makes a huge difference in your ability to handle stress. If youre generally hopeful and optimistic, youll be less vulnerable. Stress-hardy people tend to embrace challenges, have a stronger sense of humor, believe in a higher purpose, and accept change as an inevitable part of life.
Showing Them You Care
Great Compliments to Send:
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Getting Help For Depression
If you think you might be depressed, take a depression screening. Print out the results or e-mail them to yourself and then show them to a counselor or doctor.
To get help, start with your student health center or counseling service on campus. Most community colleges provide limited free mental health services and can refer you to local providers for longer-term treatment. You can also talk to your family doctor. Your local Mental Health America affiliate can refer or in some cases provide services as well. To find the nearest MHA affiliate, call 800-969-6642 or go to Find An Affiliate.
Remember, depression and other mental health conditions are nothing to be ashamed of. Depression is not a sign of weakness, and seeking help is a sign of strength. Telling someone you are struggling is the first step toward feeling better. You will need the help of a mental health professional to beat depression. Talk therapy, antidepressant medication or a combination can be very effective.
In crisis? If you or someone you know is in crisis now, seek help immediately. Call 1-800-273-TALK to reach a 24-hour crisis center or dial 911 for immediate assistance.
Draw On Social Support
It’s also helpful to have the release and support of sharing your troubles with close friends, family, or loved ones. While its not healthy to constantly complain, talking to a trusted friend about your frustrations now and then can help you process whats going on and enable you to brainstorm solutions.
If you dont have someone youre comfortable sharing your situation with, seeing a therapist or starting a regular journaling practice have benefits as well.
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