What Are the Best Ways to Handle Stress?

Are you part of the 49% of Americans who frequently feel stressed? For the last two decades, that number has been steadily rising. Luckily, there are a number of natural remedies that can help you manage your stress.

Key Takeaways

• Stress is a growing problem. Each year, more Americans report feeling stressed.
• Stress can be caused by many different things, both big and small. Often, these things are simply out of your control. But your response to them isn’t!
• Research shows that lifestyle changes can help you handle stress. Diet, exercise, sleep, and supplements can all play a part in managing stress.

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What Causes Stress?

Unfortunately, all kinds of things can cause stress. A particularly difficult situation, for example, might have you feeling worried. Or maybe a lot of small, stressful situations have built up, like the pile of straw on the proverbial camel's back. Too many, and you can feel overwhelmed.

Worse, many of these stress-causing problems might be completely out of your control. And that lack of control can itself cause stress.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to manage stress. Learning stress management skills is absolutely crucial, not just for your mental health but your physical health and quality of life.

Before we discuss some ways to relieve stress, let's quickly review why chronic stress is so dangerous.

Why Is Stress Management So Important? 

Stress might seem a mere part of life. And to some degree, it is. But there's a real difference between occasional worries and long-term anxiety.

When your body feels stressed, it activates certain functions. Your body releases adrenaline (a hormone), which increases blood pressure and makes your heart beat faster. Meanwhile, cortisol (a stress hormone) can affect your immune system, digestive system, and more.

We evolved to have this fight-or-flight response as a means to stay alive. But in the long term, all this pressure can have serious negative impacts on our bodies especially when we don't actually have anything to fight or flee from!

Too much stress can cause digestive issues, headaches, sleep problems, weight changes, memory issues, and more. Stress can even lead to serious medical conditions like stroke, heart attack, and so on.

It goes without saying that stress is no good.

So, while stress might seem inevitable or out of your control, it's crucial to try and manage your stress levels. By doing so, you won't just be improving your mental health - you'll be boosting your overall well-being.

Why Am I So Stressed?

It might seem like the ability to stay calm is innate. But why do some people cope with stress so much easier than others?

The answer is threefold. 

First, your genetics can play a role in how you handle stress. You may simply have inherited a more anxious body than your friends.

Second, events you experience, particularly in childhood, can have a major impact on how you manage stress. This is especially true if you've gone through a traumatic event.

Third, and finally, is practice. Dealing with stress is, in many ways, a skill. And like any skill, it requires practice.

But before you can practice a skill you need to know how to practice it. So, let's discuss some of the most popular, effective methods to relieve stress.

Go With Your Gut

Ever had butterflies in your stomach? The sensation stress can cause in our guts is widely known. 

But did you know the relationship goes both ways? Studies have repeatedly shown that your gut health can have a major effect on how you handle stress.

In fact, an unhealthy gut can even be a cause of stress.

This is called the gut-brain connection.

With that in mind, consider your diet. Sticking to a healthy diet has a wide range of benefits, including helping with stress. 

For example, your diet can help boost your immune system and lower your blood pressure, two things that are deeply connected with stress.

Indulging in junk foods might bring you temporary relief, but in the long run, they'll likely make your stress worse. The same goes for other generally unhealthy habits, like smoking, drinking alcohol, and even caffeine.

That's right. Your coffee run might seem like a crucial part of your morning routine, but the caffeine might be contributing to your stress.

Supplements for Stress Management

On the other hand, there are specific ingredients and supplements that could help you relax. 

Complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and fatty acids are all important parts of your diet. Filling up on those instead of fast food won't just eliminate any "hangry" feelings potentially causing tension — they'll contribute to your overall health, and therefore your ability to deal with stress.

Meanwhile, CBD could offer some immediate relief if you're feeling overwhelmed with stress. Our Relax & Calm CBD Gummies can be taken when you feel stressed or on-edge. They’re perfect after a long day at work. With no THC, they're meant to soften the sharp edge of stress, allowing you to get on with your life.

According to research, certain functional mushrooms might also help your body deal with stress. Our Functional Mushroom Blend Gummies contain extracts from six of these medicinal mushrooms to help support stress management. 

Get Moving

Physical activity is a great way to manage stress. Exercise itself won't eliminate negative thoughts, but research shows that almost any form of exercise can help relieve stress. 

How? Well, moving your body can release endorphins, which make you feel good. Exercise also helps your body cope with the stress response. 

And by focusing on your exercise, you might find you've forgotten about the things stressing you out. So whether it's a long walk, yoga class, or something else, give it a go!

Don't Lose Sleep

Sleep is a tough one. After all, anyone who's experienced stress likely knows how it can keep you up at night.

And few things are more stressful than being unable to sleep when you really need to.

There are a variety of relaxation techniques you can employ to give yourself a better chance of drifting off when you want to.

Here are some:

• Avoid caffeine or alcohol before you go to bed
• Set, and stick to, a sleep schedule
• Take a sleep supplement with melatonin alternatives
• Put your phone away at least an hour before bedtime, and avoid other screens too
• Make sure you get some sunlight, especially in the morning
• Exercise
• Take a CBD or functional mushroom gummy before bed

Many of these tricks are fundamental to maintaining good sleep hygiene. That also includes having a cool, dark, quiet room in which you feel safe and comfortable. 

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Techniques to Relax

If you have impeccable sleep hygiene but still find it hard to enter the land of dreams, there are other things you can try.

Yoga, for example, is a part of many people's nighttime routines. There are plenty of free classes online that focus on yoga for relaxation. Look for something that involves stretching, slow movements, and deep breathing.

Meditation is another staple of many nighttime routines. It often involves little more than trying to be aware of the thoughts rushing around your mind. Practice deep breathing to help with this.

A related technique is mindfulness. When practicing mindfulness, people often try to recognize anxious thoughts. This self-awareness can be helpful for those who find it hard to sort through their thoughts before bed.

Writing in a journal or diary can also help. Try setting a specific time when you write.

By spending time on these techniques, you'll hopefully find that you get to sleep easier. And even if not, these self-care efforts are beneficial for all kinds of reasons beyond sleep.

Reach Out

Isolation can make stressful situations much worse. And stress motivates many people to stay isolated.

Breaking this feedback loop can be a challenge, but it is crucial.

Talking about what's worrying you with a loved one can help reduce your sense of stress. Spending time with other people, even acquaintances, can also reduce stress, as long as they aren't the cause of your anxiety.

You don't even need to address what's worrying you. A mere hangout with people you like, ideally involving laughter, can do wonders for your mental health. 

Seek Help

That being said, your loved ones can only do so much. If you feel like you need professional help to stay positive, don't hesitate to reach out.

That help might involve talk therapy, where you discuss what's stressing you out. It might include cognitive behavioral therapy, where you practice tasks to challenge and change thought patterns contributing to your stress.

There are all kinds of professional methods for helping you manage anxiety. The important thing is that you actually try them!

Conclusion

Stress might seem inevitable, but there's no need to accept it as a major part of your life. By implementing the above techniques, from sleep to supplements, you should be able to handle stress like a pro.

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