According to the Center for Health Advocacy & Wellness, stress is “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” Stress can certainly make life a little more difficult for individuals, but it’s important to remember that you can overcome the stress you face. Many people across the globe face stress on a daily basis; some take action to surpass it but others let loads of stress build.
According to Harvard University’s Counseling and Mental Health Services, when stress becomes overwhelming and prolonged, the risks for mental health problems and medical problems increase. This statement alone explains why you should make an attempt to manage your personal burdens of stress. Stress can come from many things, such as work, school, and money.
Now you may ask, “How can I deal with this stress?” and there’s a wide variety of methods to answer that question. First and foremost, there’s some professional methods you can take to help with your stress, the most common being cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Using this method, a therapist will help change a negative thought process that’s caused by stress. CBT is beneficial as you have someone to speak through your problems with and they will help push you in the right direction.
Elizabeth Scott, PhD, wrote an article for Verywell Mind analyzing the benefits of cognitive therapy for stress. Scott claims, “This is significantly faster than the years-on-the-couch rate of psychoanalytic therapy, which is what many people still think of when they think of ‘going to a shrink.’"
Although therapy can be pretty expensive, awkward, and maybe not realistic for many people dealing with stress, there’s an abundance of other methods. Exercise is a great natural way to relieve yourself from stress. Intense physical activity may not necessarily be your thing, but exercise comes in many forms, such as walking, jogging, sports, or even dancing. The great thing about using exercise for stress is how you are improving your physical health as well as your mental health. For example, I started skateboarding last year for something to do during quarantine, but little did I know it would be my best stress reliever. Skateboarding helped free me from my shackles of stress and genuinely made me happy as I began to see personal improvement in my abilities. While physical activity may sound ineffective, it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and try new things, as you may find a new passion, just like I did.
A quote from Notebooks states, “Sometimes music is the only medicine the heart and soul need.” Personally, I live by this quote when it comes to stress. Compared to therapy and exercise, music may not be as effective in the long run but it may prove to be a quick and efficient way to deal with stress in the short term. The effectiveness of the music depends on what you're listening to. For example, faster music is known to make you more alert, upbeat music produces feelings of positivity, and a slower tempo quiets your mind, allowing you to relax. Researchers at Stanford University found that “listening to music seems to be able to change brain functioning to the same extent as medication," and even supported the idea that music is an easy and accessible stress reliever. Overall, something as simple as music can be quite beneficial for you when it comes to stress, so give it a try!
According to The American Institute of Stress, 73% of people have stress that affects their mental health. Whether it’s music, exercise, or even therapy, it’s important to utilize possible stress relievers before giving up on managing your stress. Just because the stress may temporarily suppress your production or mood doesn’t mean it will last forever.