Managing Stress

By Erika Mancilla LMFT

In the 1930’s, scientist Hans Selye,  coined the word “stress” to describe “a nonspecific response to the body to any demand”. In current times, stress is often defined as “a feeling of being tense, overwhelmed, worn out, or exhausted”. Everyone experiences varying degrees of stress at some time or another.
Acute stress and chronic stress are two types of stress most individuals might have experienced at some point in their life. Acute stress is brief, but intense. It can be detailed as the everyday stress we might feel when  encountering heavy traffic on the way to work, studying for an exam, or even asking someone out on a date. On the other hand, chronic stress relates to stress that is long-lasting. These symptoms might not be intense at the moment, but the long-term effects are severe. Examples of chronic stress include unhealthy relationships, traumatic experiences, or other environmental factors. 
There is no specific method to eliminate stress, but here are a few strategies  that may be helpful:Writing thoughts and feelings in a journal Listening to music Eating a healthy meal Getting your body movingPracticing mindfulness exercisesTaking some deep breathsSpending time with family or friendsReadingSetting boundaries with others Getting enough sleep 
Although, some go to strategies have been provided to possibly manage stress please seek mental health services from a professional when stress becomes unmanageable, and it is impacting your overall functioning.  

*Resources: Therapistaid.com 

                    Therapy for Teens by Kevin Gruzewski, CTRS