BLOG | 5 UNHEALTHY WAYS WE COPE WITH STRESS AND HOW TO STOP USING THEM
September 24, 2019 | Andrew Stead
When the pressure of stress is too hard to handle, our body and unconscious mind are desperately looking for a way out. Coping mechanisms help us to make it through a long day or a rough period. But when we’re sucked into a spiral of anxiety and stress it can be tough to create healthy behaviours. We’re all human, and sometimes the easiest way looks the most appealing, so don’t judge yourself if you recognise some of your coping mechanisms in the list below. Acknowledge and accept the problem, I have a solution for you!
What are the most common but unhealthy ways to cope with stress and how can we change our habits to be rid of them forever?
1. Food
Ever indulged in your favourite dessert or ordered too much food because you were stressed? Or found yourself at the groceries store with a cart full of junk food just because you were worried about some issue at work? I’m a sugar addict! Comfort food – as its name suggests – may make us feel better, but can quickly become unhealthy. Obesity is a global epidemic and we have to keep watch.
My solution: creative cooking. Take a restorative shower the minute you get home, leave all the office stress at the door and cook! Homemade food is healthier; and cooking – as any other creative activity – will capture your attention. Cooking for yourself is an act of self-love that you truly deserve after a long day!
2. Anger
Lack of sleep, time pressure and frustration are the perfect ingredient for an explosion of anger. Even if due to external causes, anger is quite difficult to manage socially.
My solution: nature immersion. When you feel agitated take a deep breath and take a mindful walk in the nearest park. Spending time in nature will reconnect you with the gentle parts of yourself and alleviate the tension.
3. Uncontrollable Crying
Wednesday morning and you already feel so overwhelmed from the week that the only thing you’d want to do is crying? A good cry can be healthy and releases a lot of negative emotions, but certainly can’t be a long-term solution to give your nerves a break.
My solution: pets! stroking dogs and cats has been proven to help stress release (Washington State University, 2019). So in case you’d need an excuse to convince your spouse you need to adopt a dog, you’re welcome!
4. Alcohol and Drugs
Alcoholism is one of the most common and sneaky addictions known to man. Having a glass of wine after work or a pint at the pub is socially acceptable, often encouraged. Non-drinkers like me are often considered peculiar, while needing a glass of red to ease the days tension is considered pretty normal.
My solution: meditate. If the only thing that can doze you off and stop the crowd of thoughts that are in your mind is alcohol, try cleaning your mind instead! Meditation will give you the quietness and the peace of a monk. Want to learn a simple one?
[CLICK HERE] to check out my short video.
And the mother of all addictions: recreational drugs. So available and common that sometimes we don’t even realise it may be illegal, but legality isn’t the point. Unobstructed need is never healthy and we need to break the circle.
My solution: community. We’re herd animals and we need support and contact. Stress and modern life can isolate and estrange us. Nothing better than people who love us to overcome addictions.
5. Work Work Work
My names Andrew and I’m a workaholic! I love my work and I’m fortunate to do what I do but this is my first place of emotional escape.
Often when we feel overwhelmed and desperately in need of a break, the only think we can do is keep working harder. It can be tricky for the mind to understand a particular habit is slowly killing us, and the same can be said for overworking and stress: we keep recreating the same condition until we drop dead.
My solution: break the habit! Try to stop working at 6pm, every day for at least 21 days, no matter what: this time frame is the minimum amount of time needed to adapt to change (Maltz, 1960). But if you want to make sure the routine will stick, put some extra effort and jump out of the office for over 2 months, recent studies demonstrate how habits are formed after 66 days (Lally et al., 2009).
If you know someone who is dealing with a stressful phase and is in need of help and support, connect with them and make them feel less alone! Want to share your story? Get in touch, I’d love to hear from you!
Have a successful, stress-free day,
Andrew
