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Getting Over Stressing Out
by Amy Thomas, 01.23.01
Extreme stress can cause high blood pressure, appetite changes, insomnia, and depression. |
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Stress is the physical and emotional reaction you have to outside pressures. Whether you're uptight about something specific, such as tomorrow's history test, or something larger, like the way your parents seem to be fighting all the time, your response will likely be the same — a faster heartbeat, butterflies in your stomach, nightmares, the works.
While small doses of stress can be a good thing — think about how a deadline motivates you to write your term paper, or playing a better basketball team forces you to push your limits — too much of it can have severe effects. In fact, if your struggle with stress gets too extreme, it can lead to high blood pressure, appetite changes, insomnia, and depression.
So your mission is to find healthy ways to deal with stress. Although you should do whatever works for you (shopping, anyone?), the following ideas can make your stressful ride through life a little less bumpy.
- Start talking. Your friends are your support network. Your family, too. Find someone you trust, and tell her or him what's on your mind. Although it can be intimidating to talk about some issues, when you smother your problems inside, you automatically increase your stress level. When you get it out there, you're lightening your load.
- Break out your exercise gear. Hike, box, play tennis or soccer. Physical motion releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It's your body's natural way of deflecting pain — physical as well as emotional — and lifting your mood. Karate chop!
- Chill out. Write in a journal, try meditation or yoga, or relax in your room with some aromatherapy candles. The point is to make time for yourself, so you can connect with what you're feeling.
- Laugh — a lot. Tune into South Park or a Scooby Doo rerun. Check out Chris Rock or Adam Sandler's latest flick. Laughing is a positive way to combat the negative effects of stress, so indulge in whatever cracks you up and keeps your spirits high.
- Act like a kid. Go back to the days when nothing mattered, and climb a tree, dance like a fool, or hit the playground. Whatever it is, do something that made you happy when you were a kid, and lose yourself in that careless freedom again.
- Deal with it. It's the hardest but most effective piece of advice, which means sometimes you just gotta do it. Pinpoint what's causing your stress, and confront it. If you're unhappy with your relationship, for example, be honest with your partner. Or if you feel your parents' expectations are too high, level with them. The worst thing that can happen is an awkward conversation or even a fight, which, strangely enough, will be better for you then ignoring your needs.
However you decide to manage the stress in your life, remember to be good to yourself. Nobody knows you like you, so trust your gut, and say "so long" to stress. |
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