3 Smart Tips For Successfully Managing Stress

yoga

Stress is pretty common and considering that about 33% of people experience it in the most extreme forms, this is a subject of concern. Moreover, with a bit of online research, you will discover that 73% of persons who fail to manage theirs end up with mental health issues. This discussion mainly focuses on successfully managing stress as you deal with life’s issues. Hopefully, you can pick some helpful pointers from here.

Step back and see the problem from another perspective

Contrary to public perception, stress always has a cause. It is the intense anxiety generated from a problem an individual is facing. In many cases, people experience stress from external factors—unexpected ill health, loss of a job, or death of a loved one. Indeed, stress can be a natural reaction to some of these situations. However, the problem arises when people cannot detach from the situation and, even worse, fail to see things from a different perspective.

According to clinical psychologists, stepping back from a situation and allowing yourself to see it from another angle can be helpful. It allows you to explore solutions you may not have realized were viable options. When you do this, resolving a stressful situation can become a natural progression when you see the issue differently.

Be deliberate about recharging and relaxing

For many experts who help others overcome stress, relaxing and recharging are essential self-help strategies anyone can explore. The mind has its way of recharging to help you remain calm in stressful situations. If you have ever wondered why meditation focuses on relaxation to recharge the mind, this is it. The trick here is to be conscious about what you are doing.

Stress can be managed successfully when you decide to tackle it from a conscious angle, whether chronic or not. In other words, there is more to benefit when you are deliberate about dealing with the situation from a proactive mindset. People fail to realize that even preventing stress should be as deliberate as possible.

Sometimes, the power to overcome it lies in your hands. Admittedly, sometimes, things get out of hand, and you may be compelled to seek further help from an expert. Thankfully, technology-driven healthcare makes it possible to access telehealth psychiatry from the comfort of your home. This way, you can still be deliberate about seeking help in a relaxed mode.

Resolve issues in the early stages

When you allow stressful situations to spiral out of control, the result is a drastic toll on your mental and physical health. However, this can be quite difficult for many people, especially when they have no idea what situations can get out of control. Fortunately, with certain signals, this can be easy to do. For example, if you constantly think about a particularly critical situation, it could be a potential signal. You need a little bit of alertness and observation to quickly pick up on these signs.

Indeed, stress can be managed with the right techniques. Hopefully, you’ll leverage these tips for the best results.

Hobbies That Will Improve Your Mental Health

Hobbies That Will Improve Your Mental Health

Achieving the goals that you have set doesn’t mean that you have to punish yourself. Why set the goal of losing weight, when you can set the goal of trying to learn how to play basketball? Both will achieve the same result, but one involves more fun and less pressure. If you want to make sure that you are benefitting your health with the hobbies that you choose, then you can find some of the best ones below.

Coloring

Coloring was once an activity that was meant for children. Now we live in a world that revolves around increased workloads and round-the-clock tech, and it would seem that adult coloring is quickly becoming popular. It is a great way for you to make yourself feel as though you are in the present moment, and it can also help you to feel way less stressed too. If you want a good hobby that won’t take up too much of your time, then coloring is certainly a good option. If you have a creative side, then this is a very good way for you to help ground yourself during very stressful times.

Keep a Journal

You may not think that keeping a journal is a good idea if you are stressed, but it can actually help you to strengthen your immune system. It helps you to come to terms with any stressful life events and it can also help you to buffer the impact on your health. If you want to reap the benefits, then consider writing first thing in the morning. This will help you to organize your thoughts and it will also help you to start each day off on the right foot. Enthusiasts claim that keeping a journal helps to inspire creativity and productivity. It can also help you to plan out what you want to do and why.

Pottery

Pottery is a fantastic way for you to make something for a loved one. It has been scientifically proven to reduce levels of stress, and it can also help you if you are prone to depression. Pottery provides you with a way to channel your stress and it can also give you the chance to get super creative. As the wheel spins and the clay starts to form, you can then help yourself to feel more synergized with your surroundings. A large part of the brain is dedicated to the sensitivity and movement of your hands, so pottery is a very good way for you to channel this. Plasticine is another option, and you can also learn how to make figures, which can be used to further a videography hobby. Want to find out more? Why not look into how to make a stop motion video?

Baking

Baking is a very good way for you to unwind and it is also a great way for you to make comforting snacks for the family. The best thing about baking is that you can be destructive, by cracking eggs but then you end up turning that into something constructive. By the end, you will have something to be proud of, as well as something that you can truly show off.

Reading

Did you know that if you engage in a good book for just 6 minutes, you can reduce your stress levels by over two thirds? This makes it far more effective when compared to having a cup of tea, and it can also help you to get the mental escape you are looking for as well if you are struggling with stress and loss of energy. If you are having a hard time finding a good book to get into then there are many options out there for you to choose from. You can also buy yourself an e-reader so you can read while you are on the go. This is the best way for you to make sure that you are able to get the stress relief you need without breaking the bank.

Candle Making

Another thing that you can do if you want to benefit your mental health would be for you to try your hand at making candles. When you do delve into the world of candle making, you will soon find that you can create some magical creations and that you can also give some out as gifts too. You will feel proud of the fact that you can store them around the home, and you can push your talent as much as you want as well.

All in all, having a good hobby will help you to make sure that you relieve stress, and it will also help you to unwind as well. Why not see how far you could take some of the above ideas, and push yourself to try something new?

How you can Recover From Trauma and Abuse

How you can Recover From Trauma and Abuse

If you struggle to get to sleep because of thoughts or ideas about the past you might have some trauma in your life. Trauma can also manifest in social isolation, substance use, and panic attacks. If you think you might have some trauma it’s important to acknowledge this and seek out ways to start your healing process. Start right now with some helpful ideas in the article.   

Acknowledge your trauma 

Many people who experience trauma don’t realize they have trauma and suffer as a result. The effects of trauma can include trouble sleeping, panic attacks, substance use, flashbacks, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. It’s important that you don’t ignore signs of trauma. 

The first step to healing from trauma is acknowledging that trauma is what you have. This can come as a sudden insight to some people who thought it was related to something else, contact honest nursing home abuse attorneys, if you think you suffer from care home abuse trauma. 

Understand the need to heal 

Once you have acknowledged you have trauma it’s time to start the healing process. Everyone is different and will heal in a different way. Since there is no one-size-fits-all solution to trauma you might need to investigate the healing methods that you respond to best – there are many! 

Healing from trauma might be as simple as focusing on yourself for a time and practicing your mindfulness techniques, or it might require a series of in-depth talking therapy sessions. Spend some time looking after yourself and exploring possible methods to start healing your trauma. 

Embrace positive affirmations 

Everyone has an inner critic, it’s that little voice that tells us we’re not good enough and can never heal from the past trauma. Of course, this inner critic is not speaking the truth and must be silenced in some way. One way is to use positive affirmations to replace negative self-talk.  

Positive affirmations can be effective but sometimes it can seem like hard work to constantly work against negative thoughts that come back again and again. If you struggle with unwanted thoughts, try some chanting or humming which takes all your attention away from thoughts.  

Create an active lifestyle 

Exercising is an excellent way to heal trauma because it allows the brain to release endorphins (feel-good chemicals) that raise your mood and improve your concentration. The other reason it’s so good is that it keeps your body physically active and splits your attention. 

If you like physical activity it’s easy to choose something new or get back into an activity you once enjoyed, but if exercising isn’t your thing choosing an activity might be a little bit more challenging. Some activities that are excellent for healing trauma include martial arts and yoga.  

Explore your creativity 

Art therapy works on a simple premise when you express yourself creatively the negative stuff comes up. The artworks you create are manifestations of your past trauma and pouting them on the page in some form helps you to explore and process them in creative ways. 

Art therapy includes things like painting, drawing, writing, playing music, and making crafts. If you think you are unartistic and for that reason, art therapy won’t help, it’s worth giving it a try. Art therapy isn’t about creating outstanding works of art, it’s about gaining new perspectives.   

Explore the natural world 

Nature is a tremendous healer! That means inner nature as well as outer nature, and you will need the impact of both if you want to fully heal from PTSD and other types of trauma. Of course, mindfulness and meditation are two of the most effective trauma-healing solutions. 

External nature can also have a very positive impact on your healing. Nature is full of oxygen that is excellent for your brain and lungs. It is also very inspiring, walking in nature is a chance to let your mind wander and heal. Some people believe nature also has magical energy.  

Discover helpful therapies

Everyone is different and heals from trauma in their own unique ways. Some people benefit from therapies like psychotherapy while others are afraid to go near it. For some people, psychotherapy is unappealing because it means sharing aspects of their lives with others.    

However, therapies can be very effective for healing past traumas and shouldn’t be discounted. There’s no need to commit to a series of sessions right away, it’s fine to try one or two sessions to see if they work for you – also consider other therapies such as CBT and hypnotherapy. 

If you are reluctant to commit to therapy as you have many other responsibilities to juggle, you may want to consider mental health outpatient treatment. Seeking therapy as an outpatient will help you get the support you need without staying away from home. This means that you will gain all the benefits of treatment for depression, trauma, and abuse while being able to return home each day. For many people, outpatient therapy is an effective solution and helps them access treatment while maintaining their other responsibilities.

 

Improve the Quality of Your Life through EFT

I’m always on the lookout for ways to improve the quality of my life, and I feel after this podcast chat that I have a new tool in my quality life toolbox. My guest, Ann Hince, spiritual teacher, public speaker, and author, explains how she changed the direction of her life through the process of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping.  Tune in to learn this very simple technique that you can start using immediately as I have!

Listen on your favorite podcast player!

About Ann Hince:

Ann has developed the ability to sense inside her body, and release physical tension stored in her connective tissue, using solely the focus of her mind. She has x-rays to show the physical changes resulting from this inner work – including changing the alignment of her eye sockets, the straightening of her neck, the centering of her lower jaw, and the growth of her tooth roots.

Ann wants us all to know that we have this incredible power within us, it just takes going further with practices that you may already be doing.

As many of you may know, changing what is on our inside, changes what we see on the outside, so it is Ann’s belief that we can not only change our personal world, but also our collective world.

Ann has a YouTube channel where she shares her journey, explains the connection between the physical and the spiritual, and will be posting videos of how to change the pressing issues of our time. Her book, A Pathway to Insight, details her journey and breaks down the steps she took to attain what she calls Insight, or the ability to see within the body.

Connect with Ann Hince:

Ann shares a wealth of information on her website. Check it out!

Beat Tiredness And Boost Your Energy

As a society, we’re busier than ever. We have to balance work, family time, and social activities with our responsibilities. So it’s no wonder that many of us feel exhausted by the end of the day! This article will give you some ways to beat tiredness and boost your energy. And you won’t have to drink coffee or energy drinks all day long.

Sleep

One of the most important things we can do to benefit our health and well-being is to get enough sleep. I know what you are thinking…it’s easier said than done. Our sleeping habits are closely linked to our circadian rhythm. This is an internal body clock designed by nature to make sure we stay healthy and productive during the day. When you get a good night’s sleep, it will help reduce stress levels. It will also improve your immune system function. Furthermore, it will improve mood regulation, memory consolidation, cognition functions such as problem-solving or decision-making skills, creativity, and general productivity. If you have difficulty sleeping, you should avoid caffeine. Also, put away your phone at least 4 hours before bedtime. You should find a sleeping routine, too. For example, meditate or take a warm bath before bed. Drink a warm relaxing drink like chamomile tea.

Watch What You Eat

Tiredness is often caused by what you eat. Eating fried foods or greasy meals can affect your energy levels. If you’re eating many of these types of food, cut down on them. Replace them with fruit, vegetables, and lean meats. This will help give you more sustained energy.

Foods that are rich in iron also help increase your energy levels. Iron is an essential mineral for the body. It’s involved with many processes, including breathing, transporting oxygen throughout your body, and releasing energy from cells. If you think you may be low on iron, eat more beef, pork, beans, soybeans, lentils, spinach, and fortified cereals. You can also try taking an iron supplement.Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day too. Dehydration can cause tiredness. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water each day.

Test Your Hormone Levels

Many people think that they are tired because of their food, but this is not always true. If you have chronic fatigue or feel exhausted all the time, test your hormone levels. Hormones are made in different glands in our bodies and influence many functions. These functions include mood, energy levels, weight, and sleep. When hormones are not working correctly in your body, it can lead to feeling tired constantly. This occurs even after you have slept for over eight hours.

Men and women can suffer from hormone imbalances which can have debilitating effects on their lives. If you suspect that your hormones are not working correctly, it’s essential to have a doctor test them. Hormone replacement therapy is a solution to help you feel more energetic and happier without going through surgery or long medical treatments. If you are busy and don’t have time to visit your doctor daily, there are options. For example, there are options to get remote testosterone replacement therapy for men or estrogen therapy for women.

Exercise

Even a small amount of exercise is enough to make a huge difference. If you are feeling exhausted, getting your heart rate up for 20 minutes can be enough to see an improvement. Exercise releases endorphins which make us feel happier and more energized. It’s a great way to get the energy levels back up when they’re low.

Breathing Exercises

When people are tired, their breathing is usually shallow, leading to feelings of dizziness and lightheadedness. By implementing breathing techniques into your daily routine, you will be able to beat tiredness. One technique is deep inhalation through the nose for four seconds, then exhaling out of the mouth for seven seconds. This has been shown to help reduce stress hormone levels in the bloodstream. Another technique is to breathe in through the nose for four seconds then out of your mouth. Be sure to make an ‘O’ shape with your lips while you do it. This breathing exercise has been shown to help boost energy levels and improve blood flow throughout the body.

Tiredness and lack of energy are two things that all people experience at some point in their lives. This is usually because we have not gotten enough sleep or because our bodies need time to adjust to a new routine. Still, sometimes there may be other reasons for this exhaustion that require further investigation by your doctor. However, even if you suffer from chronic fatigue or a hormone imbalance, these tips will help you improve your energy levels and beat fatigue.