Stress is the process of appraising and responding to a threatening or challenging event.
People often refer to “stressful situations,” but stress is less about the events themselves and more about our reaction to those events.
Stress is more about our perception or view of events than the actual events.
If we see situations as a challenge rather than a threat, stress can help motivate us to achieve great things.
Extreme or prolonged stress can harm us.
Our mental state and our bodies are connected. Therefore, it’s important to find ways to cope with stress.
If you can keep from being overwhelmed, you’ll find it easier to see difficult situations as challenges and opportunities for growth.
We need to learn how to keep stress at a level that helps us rather than harms us.
Healthy ways to cope with stress include;
1. Mindfulness meditation
2. Active strategies
Meditation is a useful stress-reduction technique, slowing down the mind and the body.
When you do breathing exercises during meditation, you calm your physiological response to stress.
There are many apps and videos for guided meditation, breathing, and relaxation online.
Simple type of meditation
Sit or stand in a quiet place. Start by breathing in and out, inhaling and exhaling normally. Then begin to even out the pace of your breath. Breathe in deeply, so you see your stomach move out, and count silently to three. Hold your breath while you count to three. Then exhale as you count to three. Repeat this process for a minute or so and increase the counts (or slow down your counting) if you can. The deep breaths will calm the nervous system, and focusing on counting will help you focus your mind on your breath.
Active strategy focuses on changing how we think about ourselves, the stressors, or the stressful situation.
You can counter stressful thoughts by creating new, more accurate thoughts that keep your situation in perspective.
People often refer to “stressful situations,” but stress is less about the events themselves and more about our reaction to those events.
Stress is more about our perception or view of events than the actual events.
If we see situations as a challenge rather than a threat, stress can help motivate us to achieve great things.
Extreme or prolonged stress can harm us.
Our mental state and our bodies are connected. Therefore, it’s important to find ways to cope with stress.
If you can keep from being overwhelmed, you’ll find it easier to see difficult situations as challenges and opportunities for growth.
We need to learn how to keep stress at a level that helps us rather than harms us.
Healthy ways to cope with stress include;
1. Mindfulness meditation
2. Active strategies
Meditation is a useful stress-reduction technique, slowing down the mind and the body.
When you do breathing exercises during meditation, you calm your physiological response to stress.
There are many apps and videos for guided meditation, breathing, and relaxation online.
Simple type of meditation
Sit or stand in a quiet place. Start by breathing in and out, inhaling and exhaling normally. Then begin to even out the pace of your breath. Breathe in deeply, so you see your stomach move out, and count silently to three. Hold your breath while you count to three. Then exhale as you count to three. Repeat this process for a minute or so and increase the counts (or slow down your counting) if you can. The deep breaths will calm the nervous system, and focusing on counting will help you focus your mind on your breath.
Active strategy focuses on changing how we think about ourselves, the stressors, or the stressful situation.
You can counter stressful thoughts by creating new, more accurate thoughts that keep your situation in perspective.
