Even though stress is not normally considered a mental health problem, I do believe according to www.Mind.org, that stress is connected to our mental health in several ways. Remember, stress is layered. It affects us mentally, physically and emotionally. As you know stress can cause mental health problems, and it can make existing problems worse. As a certified stress management coach, when thinking about mental health and how to stay serene in turbulent times, we cannot forget about how stress affects us.
According to a study at www.MentalHealth.org, 51 percent of adults that felt stressed reported feeling depressed, and 61 percent reported feeling anxious. Of the people that said they had felt stress at some point in their lives, 16 percent had harmed themselves and 32 percent said they had had suicidal thoughts and feelings. Just because a person is dealing with stress doesn’t mean something is wrong with them. What is important is how we handle stress and replace bad habits with better ones.
It is important for me to help individuals alleviate stress because I believe everyone has been created for and in purpose. I want to see men and women maximize their full potential an embrace their purpose without feeling unworthy. I don’t want stress to stop you from experiencing those wins and victories in life.
When I had poor stress management, I experienced insomnia, anxiety, hair loss and unhealthy fluctuations with my weight. One scripture I kept close to me during that time and even now is Matthew 6:34 that says, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Not only did I depend upon this scripture, but also, I implemented some life changing stress relief techniques, and I want to share them with you too! It’s time to stress less starting NOW!
One simple way to relieve stress is get sun before 11 a.m. This is important because it will increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects our mood, cognition and memory. When serotonin is increased, we are more focused, creative and a joy to be around.
A second way to relieve stress is give and receive hugs, because they are so powerful and an immune booster. They also help to reduce stress and decrease depression, so start hugging.
A third way to relieve stress is by speaking affirmations that shift our energy and mindset to see the bigger picture instead of focusing all our time and energy on the situation we are going through. It helps to see the rainbow through the rain.
When thinking of stressing less, try increasing endurance. When we have bad habits, it weakens our endurance and our ability to be effective. It is dangerous to bottle up stress. What people may not understand is that we can look good on the outside, but we also feel things happening inwardly. When we know that something isn’t right, our heart is having palpitations and shortness of breath, and we are not sleeping well—that is a layered effect. Taking care of yourself and your mental state is a serious matter.
Stress in the black community is also high! There are so many things that we have to face in our communities, and there are times in which we feel like we are alone, we are isolated, and we’re the only ones going through it. Or we have this ego or pride that tells us even though we know we need to reset or reach out and ask for help, it’s like I’m superwoman or superman.
One of the things my mother, grandmother, and auntie would say is, “It takes a village to raise a child”, but it also takes a village for a community to thrive. One of the things we must do is ask for help and know that it’s OK, it doesn’t make us weak or incompetent. We have to be open to receiving, sometimes that’s hard for us because we’ve had to work so hard to get the things that we have. We also have to be open to various professions of people that can aid and provide help and resources — whether it’s a life coach, a therapist, or a counselor. We have to be able to talk to someone, open up, feel safe, and be flexible in our ability to give and receive.
So, my question to you is what stressors are you dealing with currently? Remember, when alleviating stress, the goal is not how well you can multitask, but do you have healthy habits and routines in place to deal with stress. Take care your mental health, including the stressors in your life!
If you would like to download my top 33 Tips on How to Stress Less Starting Now, go to my website today and get your complimentary resource at www.carendadeonne.com
Until Next time, Stress Less Starting NOW!
Carenda Deonne
Author/Speaker/Life Coach
