Managing Stress Levels

Stress is something which we all experience on a regular basis and is a normal occurrence. However, if you begin to find yourself stressed on a daily basis to the point of becoming overwhelmed and is getting you down, it can lead to more complications in the future.

Excessive amounts of stress will impact your mental and physical health and can be a contributing factor to feelings of depression, in turn symptoms of depression can also lead to elevated stress levels.

When you notice your stress levels starting to impact your daily life, this would be an indication to begin adopting methods to start managing your stress levels.

What causes stress

Although stress is a normal occurrence, when you start and feel though you are experiencing excess amounts and it is taking a tole on your mental health, it is important to try and identify what factors may be triggering these stress levels, in doing so, you can look into ways of reducing the impact it is having on you both mentally and physically.

Stress can be caused by a number of factors which may include:

• Work - You may be over pressured at work, not earn enough money or perhaps have been made redundant. All can lead to excess stress and pressure.

• Finances - Being in debt, increase in bills and not being able to stay on top of your financial situation

• Relationships - You may be experiencing difficulties with your relationship, family members or friends.

• Health - Illness in yourself or a close loved can be a cause of stress as this can also impact other aspects of your life

These factors may apply emotional and mental pressure which can be a catalyst for triggering symptoms of both anxiety and depression.

Stress and Depression

Stress and depression are two factors which can be closely linked, with stress increasing feelings of depression and depression increasing stress levels and your ability to handle stress.

Short term stress is something humans are able to manage, however high stress levels over a long period of time can become highly taxing on our physical and mental health. This in turn can onset symptoms linked with depression.

When suffering with depression, what we would class as normal day to day stresses can often seem far worse then they actually are, resulting in feeling overwhelmed by smaller things. This is also a reason to communicate how’re you’re feeling as those around you, as they may struggle to understand why you’re reacting the way you are.

Managing Stress

Learning how to manage your stress levels is an imperative step to reducing the impact it has on your overall mental health. There are a number of different methods to which you can adopt which can help re-gain some control. As well as this, there are also a number of basic factors to consider implementing into your daily routine. These include:

Getting enough sleep
Eating a nutritious diet
Consuming less alcohol
Exercising regularly
Finding and practicing a hobby you enjoy

Identifying Triggers – Similar to anxiety, identifying the things which stress you out the most and on a consistent basis will allow you to address them and overcome them. Not knowing the route cause of why you feel the way you do will only lead elevated stress levels and feelings of being hopeless.

Diary/Journal – Going hand in hand with identifying the triggers, practice using a journal on a day to day basis is a simple yet effective method of clearing your mind. By writing down the things that are on your mind and stressing you out, it can de-clutter your headspace and enable to you stay on top of what maybe re-occurring stresses.

Breathing Techniques – Excessive amounts of stress can onset feelings of anxiety and panic, to combat anxiety, breathing techniques and exercises can be used. However, they can also be beneficial to use when stressed, this would be taking pre-emptive action to avoid symptoms of anxiety. Breathing exercises move your focus on breathing, when practiced it can be a great way to ground yourself and relax your mind.

Time Out – It can become very easy to apply a lot of pressure on yourself as well as have additional pressures of family and work commitments and as a result this will likely lead to high stress levels and leave you feeling burnt out. It is imperative we take time out to devote to ourselves and apply self care. Whether this be practicing a hobby, watching a movie or a weekend away, assigning some you time will be key to keeping stress levels down.

Avoiding drugs, alcohol and gambling - Short term fixes may seem to help in the moment, however more often than not these temporary solutions can lead to much bigger problems further down the line. Ensure any of these factors are in moderation and don’t begin to consume you as they seem to provide an escape from your stresses and worries. If you feel you may need help regarding any of these points click here.