Coping With Stress

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

You slept through your alarm and now you're late for work -- again. 

You recently applied to a competitive college program and you're worried your grades aren't high enough to get in. 

Your best friend is moving away and last night you got into a huge argument with your partner. Now you feel completely alone. 

These are all examples of the kinds of stressful situations that pop up in our lives from time to time. Stress is part of life, but it can really hijack your emotions and make you feel completely out of control -- which can make you feel even more stressed out than ever before! 

Some stress is unavoidable, but there are ways to make yourself less vulnerable. Try one of these ideas:

- Get some sleep! When you don't get enough sleep, your body produces extra stress hormones, making you more vulnerable to stress. 
- Exercise! Exercise is one of the best stress relievers because it relaxes your muscles and encourages your body to release antistress chemicals like endorphins. 
- Breathe deeply or practice meditation! This can help calm down the physical symptoms of stress, like a racing mind or quickened heart-rate. 
- Talk to someone! Sometimes just saying what's stressing you out loud can do wonders for your stress levels. If you don't have anyone around to talk to, try writing down what's bothering you. 

These are just a few of the many tactics you can employ to help you cope with stress. If you're still feeling overwhelmed, contact us to make an appointment with one of our counsellors, drop by the Youth Centre, or visit the Tangerine Walk-In Clinic. We're here to help.