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How do you reduce stress to feel better and yourself again?
After struggling with purpose, loneliness, fear and anxiety, I became persistent in knowing how to best cope with these feelings. I am blessed to be able to have overcome them- even though I still face these issues from time to time- I have been able to use the methods I am grateful to share with you today to beat anxiety, stress and have better happiness and health all around.
I am sure you landed on this article because you feel overwhelmed, burdened, stressed, and burnt out and want some ways to heal this.
Well, just know you are not alone and you were made with a purpose and with love. Keep reading to learn more about how to reduce your stress and get back to feeling yourself again!
Signs & Symptoms Your Body Is Stressed Out
How do you know if you are stressed? Analyze your body and think about the past couple of weeks. Have you felt any of these symptoms (1):
- Headaches
- Muscular aches
- Grinding of teeth
- Nervous ticks
- Increased sweats
- Increase or loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Fatigue
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Impotence
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Irritation, anger, hostility
- Restlessness
- Fear, panic, anxiety
- Poor concentration
- Rapid heart rate
- Immune suppression (sick more easily)
If you have felt multiple of these symptoms, you may be experiencing a high-stress rate and are in search of feeling better. Congrats on deciding enough was enough and take charge of your stress and health! This is the first step in starting to feel relaxation and less stress.
Next, we will discuss why it’s important to get stressors under control to help you start to feel yourself again!
Why its important to have healthy stress reduction methods on hand
As mentioned above, you might be experiencing seriously uncomfortable symptoms of stress overload and probably thought something was wrong with you.
Nothing is wrong with you!
There are just some things that you might need to change in order to feel refreshed and relaxed again. The stressors you are experiencing are what is causing you to feel overtly overwhelmed and stressed.
If this does sound like you, at the end of reading this article, you may certainly engage in a health coaching call with me so we can talk about some options to get you feeling yourself again!
So why do we need to have stress reduction methods?
Well as you read above, stressors can cause symptoms like anxiety, depression, chronic illness, and inability to feel motivated. (1)
In order for you to be there for your friends, family, congregation, job, and other responsibilities that are calling for your attention, it is a good idea to have these stressors under control.
You can obtain early chronic lifestyle diseases such as cancer, hypertension/ high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and even engage in extra risky behaviors like overeating, emotional eating in the form of binging, drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous activities. (2)
This can turn into problems with relationships and even poor living if you are unable to go to work or fulfill your duties.
Not to mention, our attitudes and behaviors become more aggressive and hostile towards our brothers and sisters.
Related: How God Healed my Distorted Thoughts on Food
Identify Your stressors:
What are your stressors? What are some of the common themes of stress events? What are some methods you currently use for stress reduction? Healthy or unhealthy, its great to know and take time to reflect on this because it can help you to be mindful and more in tuned with your body.
Here are some of the most universal stressors we have that contribute to feelings of overwhelming stress:
- Environment
- Financial health
- Race
- Job expectation/ overwork
- loneliness/ isolation
- Age
- Poor relationships
- Belonging
- Lack of purpose
- Lack of feeling heard and respected by others
- Body image
- Social media
YouvGov calls our Millenial generation the loneliest generation with a poll stating that 30% of the millennials in it stating they felt lonely at some point.
How do you reduce stress and get cortisol under control?
If all of that worries you, don’t worry. There is hope and you can get over the stress you are feeling. If you are feeling this way, I just want you to know, you are not alone.
I myself feel stressed and during this time in our uncertain world, stressors are at an all time high around the world.
If you are unsure what cortisol is, check out this quick video, then come back to the post: What is Cortisol?
So how do you reduce stress?
Having stress methods should be easy, doable, and personal to you. After reviewing your stressors from the above point, brainstorm some of the things you can control with what you are stressed about.
Next, take a look at the 17 simple and effective ways you can reduce stress. Again, these should be personal to you and you may do what feels right in your heart.
If you also need someone to talk too, Jesuscares.org is a fantastic resource to talk to someone who cares about you and what you are going through.
I also do health coaching that includes stress reduction methods. We can talk through all the fluff of what you are going through and determine methods that are sustainable and reasonable for you to take.
Lastly, take and surrender it to Jesus. He took your shame on the cross and can fully help you remove the burdens you face if you just ask in Faith.
Related: 14 Scientifically proven ways to Relief stress & Anxiety
Check out these bible verses for comfort and assurance of this very fact:
- Galatians 6:2 “ Carry each other’s burdens and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
- James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
- John 14:13 “and whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
- John 16:33 “ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
- 1 Peter 5:7 “ Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
- Matthew 6:25-27– Do Not Worry.
- “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Not only does prayer and reading His glorious word help, I mean just look at all these verses of assurance and love, reduce stress, here are 17 simple stress reduction methods that can help too.
17 Simple and effective ways to reduce stress
First, these methods only work if you give yourself permission to do them. Give yourself permission at a time that you know you could give.
If you have an extra hour in the evening this week, but one of these activities on your calendar so you actually do them.
If you don’t do it and give yourself permission, ask yourself why and do some reflection on why the other things you are doing are more important and how you could make time for this.
- Spend time in nature on a walk
- Take a vacation or take some time off
- Keep a sabbath day of rest every week
- Journal out your thoughts and feelings, or talk to someone at jesuscares.org
- Drink some ashwagandha tea, lavender tea, decaf coffee instead of caffeine
- Mood Pills by Mind Body Love (I like these when I am at the time of the month)
- CBD tinctures or gummies to reduce stress-induced situations
- Change the way you look at the situation/ be mindful and relax and take some deep breaths.
- Eat healthier foods like fruits and vegetables
- Spend some time with loved ones, family, friends
- Do an enjoyable exercise: dance, strength train, HIIT class, pilates, running, walking, cycling, other class or fun endorphin activity
- Meditate on the word of God, or spend extra time in prayer before a stressful situation- He will give you the strength you need.
- DO SOMETHING YOU THINK IS FUN!!
- Take a hot Bubble bath
- Take time off social media
- Spend time with your kids playing or your pets
- I got this one from Jesus: take one day at a time!
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:34
Make the most out of today and do something enjoyable.
Summary
How you reduce stress is going to be personal for you. Just know that everyone experiences it and it is essential we take to heart to do something that gives us care. You matter in the world and don’t let anything or anyone tell you otherwise.
You were made for a glorious purpose and are so so loved and absolutely cherished by the One who created the entire world in 7 days and died on the cross for you.
Sometimes, the rain must happen before the flowers, so just know that sometimes unfortunate things happen to make way for new beginnings.
If you need some coaching on your stress and need someone to hear you, please feel free to book a free call with me so we can discuss this together. 🙂
Kindly,
Dacia
