According to the American Institute of Stress, over 70% of people regularly experience the physical as well as psychological symptoms of stress. Causes of stress can range from money and relational issues to health concerns and world events, and when stress is prolonged, it can lead to depression, anxiety, heart disease, etc.
Synchronous Health Specialist, Miriam Jameson, notes - “Coping with stress begins in our everyday routines and rituals. When we start here, we radically increase our ability to cope with stress both in the moment and long-term. What routines do you have in place that support your ability to cope with stress?”
Some other facts about stress: • 33% of people report feeling extreme stress • 48% of people have trouble sleeping because of stress • 75% of Americans experienced moderate to high stress levels in the past month • Stress is the number one health concern of high school students • 80 percent of people feel stress at work
So what can you do to help combat stress and cultivate resiliency in your life?
Examine. Recognize the signs of your body’s response to stress, such as difficulty sleeping, increased caffeine or other substance intake, being easily angered, feeling depressed, or having low energy.
Establish. Ask yourself whether you’re having conversations in your head that set a negative tone. If you are experiencing that, take a step back, and shift your internal dialog to focus on what is real, what is positive and how you can best cope with it. Shifting your thoughts can change your mood altogether.
Exit. Think about the things in your life that aren’t healthy, be it relationships, schedule, habits or other patterns, and consider how to establish healthy boundaries within those, or exit them altogether. Healthy boundaries can make all the difference, but sometimes endings are necessary. All of the above can be done in love.
Exhale. When was the last time you exhaled? We know breathing is necessary to life, and as cliché as it may sound, breathing is not only a key component to existence, but has also been shown to greatly impact the levels of stress and anxiety we can feel throughout a day. The benefits of deep vs. shallow breathing are quite profound. Pause. Breath in deep. Exhale slow and fully. Repeat Regularly.
To learn more and register, call 844-242-3364.
Sources below: American Institute of Stress; American Psychological Association; Global Organization for Stress
