Stress and anxiety are some of the most commonly used words today; we all have felt at least once in our lives what they mean and what effects they have. Are there any truly effective ways to overcome stress and anxiety?
In 1936, scientist Hans Selye first used the concept of “stress” to describe the body’s reaction to the external action of causal factors, called “stressors”. If it was a strange concept then, today it is among the most common, and it’s been dubbed the “21st century disease” that equally affects everyone, regardless of age, gender or social status.
Effective methods to deal with stress
It all starts with physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches or digestive disorders. After that, stress starts affecting the mental or emotional side, producing anxiety, nervousness and more.
If the stressful situation is prolonged without being resolved, these conditions may progress into more serious conditions and pathologies.
Selye also said that “Modern man will either learn to control their stress or they will be doomed to failure, illness and even death”. Therefore, stress management is vital for maintaining physical and mental health. Here are some suggestions from the experts:
1. Accept stress as an integral part of life
Whether you like it or not, stress will come into your life sooner or later, but this is not a tragedy. On the contrary, a small dose of stress can be beneficial, although it should not become chronic. Accept that stress is inevitable and focus on solving it, not the problem itself.
2. See things from the right angle
In other words, don’t give problems more importance than they actually have. Try taking control of them and mastering them, not the other way around, writes psychologytoday.com.
3. Take into account the importance of physical health
Another important reason why you should prevent stress from “nesting” in your life is physical health, which can be severely affected. You can fight it through a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, a healthy diet and good sleep.
4. Don’t mask the situation and don’t lie to yourself
It doesn’t help at all! The fact that you deny the existence of a problem or of a stressful situation in order to show those around you a good and beautiful image, does not mean that it doesn’t exist.
5. Do not despise being alone, but also do not overestimate it
Some people believe that the more busy they are and the more social activities they get involved in, the more they will forget about the problems or situations that cause them stress. Others choose to retreat, to isolate themselves from their parents, relatives, or friends because of the stress they’re feeling. People around us have their purpose, and being alone also has its purpose. However, as always, balance is the best solution.
6. Use prayer
It has been posited that genes that fight the harmful effects of stress activate during prayer, while genes that induce anxiety become inactive. “We now have scientific proof that the mind can heal the body. … You have the innate ability to self-heal diseases, prevent life-threatening conditions, and supplement established drug and surgical procedures with mind-body techniques that can improve your physiology, biochemistry, brain functioning, and genetic activity,” says Dr. Herbert Benson, honorary president of the Benson-Henry Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
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