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Stress Awareness & Self-Help Tips

Let’s be honest, we all deal with stress in our lives and with last week being National Stress Awareness Day, I’m sure you feel you’re pretty aware of it already! But in recognition of that day, and for a little self-care, let’s take a look at the actual definition of stress. Webster’s Dictionary defines stress as: a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Oh my goodness, does that sound like the last 18 months! Like me, I am sure you have experienced strain and tension that has impacted your physical health, or even caused real problems in your body. Well, our brains work the same way, and the weight of stress can leave lasting damage if not addressed as well.

A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that money, politics and work are the top three stressors for people. More than 60% of the people surveyed indicated “yes” for each of those, as being a source of stress in their lives. So it’s no wonder we all are suffering from and feeling the heavy burden of stress from one or all of those sources. At least, it may be helpful to know that you’re certainly not alone in that. The good news is that there are so many opportunities and methods to combat stress and get to better behavioral health.

To start, I want you to really ponder the source of your stress. Is it your workplace? Is it your relationships? Once you’ve jotted those down, you can begin to figure out what areas you have the power to control and what you simply cannot change. If you find things that cause you stress but you simply have no control over them, you’ll need to learn how to let those things go. A licensed counselor or therapist is great for helping you with this.

For things you can control, you’ll need to set goals for the life you want and practical ways to achieve them. A life coach can be a great asset here, and friends and family often make great accountability partners. More practically speaking, when dealing with stress, you can:

  • Discuss the problems you’re facing with a professional or a friend.
  • Work on your routines: sleep, exercise, eating, and taking breaks.
  • Reduce use of drugs, alcohol or anything you are using in excess.
  • Check in on yourself, and when things are outside of your control or you’re unable to find solutions on your own, call a licensed counselor.

At Aspire we truly care about your health and the health of those closest to you. Aspire provides affordable counseling options both in person and via telehealth, and these professionals can work with you to conquer the debilitating or dangerous stress in your life. You can call us right now and we’ll find a path that works well for you: (407) 875- 3700. I appreciate these “National Awareness” days, as it gives just one more opportunity for us to take a second to show ourselves a little self-love and give ourselves the self-care that we all need.