In today’s hyper connected and fast-paced world, life can often feel stressful. This feeling is the body’s natural response to situations the mind and body find overwhelming. Many things like long hours at work, uncertainty about the future, or upcoming presentations can cause stress.
This feeling can sometimes help individuals focus and push themselves to new limits. Nevertheless, it can also become a burden if it becomes too common in someone’s life.
There are many ways to handle stress. Here at Parinda Parikh MD PC, we want to share some tips that you can implement into your everyday life that can help you lead a calmer, happier life.
Practice guided meditation and good sleep
Meditation and good sleep can clear your mind and relax to be better equipped to handle stressful situations. Mind-centering meditation and deep breathing techniques reduced the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the activation of the fight or flight response.
Take care of yourself
Moving your body and eating healthy encompass a healthy lifestyle. When you exercise, your body releases short-term surges of cortisol, a stress hormone that also regulates our fight or flight response. Stimulating the release of this hormone through exercise can help you regulate your stress response. Additionally, eating a healthy and balanced diet increases necessary vitamins for good health, making your body and mind stronger.
Connect with Friends and Family
Having a tight network of social support that accompanies you in your day to day life is also an effective way to manage stress. Knowing that you aren’t going through it alone and having people to confide in creates a feeling of solidarity and reduces stress. Work to develop your current relationships and try meeting new people through your hobbies.
Reduce alcohol, drugs, and coffee Intake
Reducing or completely eliminating these substances from your life can help your body relax as they may be magnifying your response to stressful situations.
Inevitably, you will encounter a stressful situation. Learning how to handle these situations will help you lead a more positive and stress free life. Sometimes it may be as simple as changing your perspective on how you view a stressful event. Other times, it may take the help of others to overcome. Learning how to take a step back from stress inducing activities and implementing the tips mentioned above is a good step on your way to leading a stress free life.
Dr. Parinda Parikh specializes in mental health conditions through a comprehensive and patient-centered approach. If your stress is a symptom of a more serious condition like an anxiety disorder or depression contact Dr.Parinda for a consultation. Her integrative and holistic treatment approach combines psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy to address each patient’s unique needs and help them lead happier and healthier lives.
