Posts Tagged ‘manage stress’
By: Destiny Johnson
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. During this month reflecting on our mental health and working on our personal growth and happiness is important. Finding one’s happiness can feel like a difficult journey that requires a lot of hard work. I would like to reframe that thinking, and reflection is less about the level of difficulty and more about the intentionality, conscious effort and reaping the reward of having self-reflection. The willingness to make positive changes in your life acts but this action does not have to be dreadful. With manageable steps happiness can be acquired. Here are some small steps that create large impact related to your happiness:
1. Self – Awareness: By creating space to reflect on who you are, self-awareness will grow. Take out time to reflect on your values, interests, beliefs, life goals, and priorities. These elements will give you a greater understanding of yourself to cultivate joy and fulfillment in your life. It will also assist in positive mindset, decision making, and identify potential roadblocks that do not align with you and decrease happiness.
2. Appreciation and Gratitude: Make saying thank you and showing appreciation and gratitude a daily practice. If you begin focusing on the positive aspects of your life it will brighten your outlook. This practice can be as simple as writing down things you enjoy, or verbally recognize when positive things happen. Being ready to show appreciation or return kindness will shift your mindset and help you recognize the good in your life.
3. Manage Stress with Physical Health: Your physical well-being is significant to your mood and overall happiness. Prioritize activities that promote good physical health, such as engaging in regular exercise, consuming well balanced meals, drinking water, having a daily skin or hygiene routine, practice mindfulness or meditation, acquire a sufficient amount of sleep, and use relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, listening to music, or walking.
4. Meaningful Relationships: Surround yourself with positive people who support and uplift you. Nourish relationships where people invest time and effort in building and maintaining healthy and lasting relationships. These relationships can be with family, friends, co-workers, mentors, and loved ones. If you desire a meaningful connection start with curiosity and kindness. Try engaging in meaningful conversations and practice active listening. This will increase your understanding and empathy towards others.
5. Self – Care: Implement a weekly self-care plan without guilt or feeling selfish in which you prioritize your needs. During this set time you only care for yourself and engage in activities that bring you joy and tranquility. This includes alone time, reading books, engaging in hobbies, spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, or any other creative outlet that nurtures peace.
Seek out a professional or therapist if you are finding it challenging to discover your happiness. Don’t hesitate, everyone can benefit from creating balance and fulfillment. Avedian Counseling Center has therapists and counselors that can provide guidance, support, and tools to help you navigate your journey towards happiness.
Remember, happiness is a worthy pursuit that persists throughout our lifespan and it’s normal to have highs and lows. Be patient with yourself, embrace positivity, trust the process, and celebrate your achievements along the way.
In recent weeks, many of us are experiencing strong emotions related to the growing concerns over COVID-19. Everyday seems to bring more reports of confirmed cases and that number continues to rise according to the California Department of Public Health. As we are advised to practice social distancing and “safer at home”, we can find that stress and anxiety are increasing, spiraling into unwarranted fears. Losing social contact has also impacted our emotional wellbeing and although many of us have turned to virtual means, we are still finding ourselves feeling overwhelmed with the uncertainty of COVID-19. Although many parts of this pandemic are out of our control, it is important to identify what we do have control over.
Here are some helpful tips on managing stress and anxiety during this chaotic time.
· Set Boundaries – It is important to keep yourself up to date with information on various media platforms, but if you find yourself consumed with this information then set media limits.
· Relaxation- There are various ways of practicing relaxation including deep breathing, grounding, and/or meditation. You can start practicing deep breathing by inhaling a slow deep breath, holding your inhale for 4-5 seconds, and following it by a slow exhale.
· Journal – It is okay to feel whatever you’re feeling. Express your feelings in a healthy and constructive way. Journaling can provide you with an outlet to express and organize your thoughts.
· Self-care – Focus on loving and taking care of yourself, especially in times of stress. Remember if you do not take care of yourself, not only is your emotional health affected, but also your physical health as your immune system is compromised. Take a moment to identify simple ways to practice self-care.
Taking positive actions and identifying areas of control can help manage our fear. Remember that we are all going through this pandemic together and this too will pass. If you find yourself having difficulty controlling your anxiety or stress related to COVID-19, it can be helpful to talk to a mental health professional.
Talin Honarchian, LMFT
Avedian Counseling Center is offering three free individual sessions to a limited number of people. And, Talin Honarchian, LMFT, will be starting a free virtual support group on Mondays at 11 am for those directly impacted by the Coronavirus. Call us at (818) 426-2495 to learn more.
