People use the word stress interchangeably with anxiety, feeling anxious, fearful, nervous, overwhelmed, panicked, or stressed out. Stress is a fact of life and can affect individuals in a variety of ways. At some point in life, every individual experiences some degree of stress; some individuals experience stress more often than others and some have difficulty dealing with stress.
Stress can trigger the release of adrenaline, leaving us feeling on edge. Here are some tips to help:
Identify the cause
When we're stressed, our mind is trying to tell us that we've got a lot to get through. Writing is an effective way to visualize what's making you frazzled and work out an actionable plan to get through it.
One step at a time
Often people feel they can't cope when there's so much to be done. Take it one step at a time rather than viewing the whole stressful situation at once and feeling overwhelmed.
Build in rest periods
Breaking work up into 25-minute segments with a five-minute break can improve focus and help with time management.
Make time to play
De-stressing is basically any activity that helps you relax, unwind and take your mind off the matter. Quality time with family and friends can help, as can doing something you enjoy.
Three ways to break that overthinking habit
From time to time, we all stress about work, family, friends, and our well-being and can't seem to shake these thoughts off.
But if you're a person who constantly feels anxious in every situation, here are a few tips to help break that habit.
Challenge the question of 'what if'
Is it helpful to think of the worst thing that could happen all the time? Look for the positives instead of concentrating on the negatives.
Make time to worry
Each day, set aside time to write down your worries. Then go through the list to find solutions to the problems you can control and let go of things you can't.
Seek help
If you feel you can't find a solution on your own, don't hesitate to ask for help. If you worry about money, then talk to a financial advisor; if you worry about your job, speak to your manager about it.
Therapy CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) can also help you learn to reframe negative thoughts and cope with your anxiety.