Meditate?
Breathe?
Medication?
Take a nap?
Exercise?
Just muscle through?
Reframe?
Camomile tea?
MoodSurfing has explored several approaches to stress over the years. We consider it a serious problem, since stress can exacerbate illnesses, both physical and mental, and even cause diseases such as hypertension.
In general, our findings over the years support the idea that mindfulness is key. Mindfulness does not necessarily mean meditation, although that is one important tool. Mindfulness means remaining aware of the present, the actual environment, the real comforts and the real threats that may be surrounding you. Seeking out positive elements in your situation, training yourself to calm down, reminding yourself to practice breathing exercises – all things that anyone can learn to do – will actually rewire your brain to leave fear and anxiety behind and to move forward towards your desired future.
Stress, in particular, can be tamed and prevented from causing us harm. One technique that many of our patients have found helpful is to be conscious of a little “stress meter” continually running in the background. As long as the meter is in the green zone – low stress – you are able to move forward and accomplish what needs to be done. When you feel the meter moving up into the yellow zone – stress is starting to build up, you can immediately do something to bring it down before it becomes a problem. Of course, if your stress meter gets up into the red zone, more urgent action may be needed to bring things back into alignment. It’s just a metaphor, but many find it useful.
The ability to work calmly may also be more under your control than you may believe. Trying to accomplish work while frantically worrying about the job or the next job is much less effective than breathing through each task, and cultivating awareness of the value of working calmly.
Calmness is only one of the ways that people have found to approach neuroplasticity – the technique of training your brain into more positive pathways. Reminding oneself of the importance of gratitude is another, and getting outside regularly and moving around is another. Stress can really be managed. We just have to put in some effort to learn the skills.