Stress Relief: 10 Tips to Help You De-Stress
Here are some tried and true tips to get stress relief:
Stress Relief: Unwise Choices
Many people turn to unhealthy choices in an attempt to cope with tension, says Goodstein. These include:
Substance abuseSmokingOvereatingDrinking alcohol to excessGambling
Even a seemingly harmless source of stress relief, such as computer games, can add to your problems if it cuts into the time you need to take care of yourself. Chances are that if you play computer games more than seven hours a week, you could be losing two hours of sleep a night — which will actually add to your tension in the long run. If you notice that you are starting to depend on unhealthy sources of stress relief and you can’t make a change on your own, seek help. RELATED: The United States of Stress
Stress Relief: When Tension Signals a Deeper Problem
Goodstein says he would prefer that people use proven tension-taming steps to gain stress relief instead of taking a medication, but there are times when people need more help. “Some stressors are chronic and unremitting,” he says. “You may want to take a broad overview of your life to see if you have allowed yourself to be encumbered by factors that are making your life unpleasant.” If so, consider making a lifestyle change, he says. If you’ve been hiking, socializing, and taking care of yourself and you still have high levels of stress, talk to your doctor. Your tension could be a sign of another health issue. Remember, you don’t have to live with tension. In fact, not only is tension unpleasant, but it is unhealthy. Keep trying out stress-relief techniques until you find the ones that work for you.
