Stopping stress and anxiety

Want to know how to stop depression, stress and anxiety?

There are a few basic steps to implement first to get you on your way.

Speaking with a counsellor or therapist is also enormously beneficial for establishing what you need in your life and how to achieve that.

Here are a few psychological strategies to get you started:

Establish your needs and value them. Don’t diminish your dreams or needs for the sake of others. Without establishing a clear outline of what you want – how do you make progress?
Recognise the worth in loving what you are doing. Whatever that may be.
Practice mindfulness (Google if you’re unsure)
Base your decisions on your values. Not on others hopes. This isn’t selfish, it’s good self care & it’s honest.
Practice gratitude. Before you get out of bed in the morning, find something to be grateful for. It’s not always easy but it’s the beginning of cognitive reframing (changing your unhelpful thought processes)
Speaking of honest – be honest with yourself and others. Say what you truly feel. Not in a “wow your hair looks atrocious” kinda way, just with sincerity.
Nourish your body with good food and exercise and your mind with helpful thoughts.
Find things that make you happy. Do them. Often.
Banish all those nonsense rules running round your head. You created them and if they aren’t helping, lose them.
Stop blaming others. Yep, I said it. Others cannot make you feel an emotion. They can have clearly absurd behaviour, but YOU choose how you respond and how it affects you.

What things do you do to calm your mind and reduce stress and anxiety, please share in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

36 Comments

- - Ellen said
  - 29 May 2021
    6:21 am
These are some good points indeed

- - ella12 said
  - 18 Oct 2017
    2:24 pm
Great points. I like to read, do yoga, catch up with a friend, watch a movie.

- - mom94125 said
  - 16 Jun 2015
    5:14 pm
if we don’t stress out too much, our children will feel this and will be more relaxed themselves

- - zeelah said
  - 25 Apr 2015
    4:12 pm
Great tips to practice into my life. Thank you

- - mom57808 said
  - 24 Apr 2015
    4:37 am
well I am going to try all of these suggestions, fingers crossed

- - mom82590 said
  - 27 Feb 2015
    9:14 pm
Take some deep breaths, and pause. Concentrate on slowing your breathing

- - hmp88 said
  - 29 Jan 2015
    10:36 pm
Me time = a bath or if I have the cash: a massage!

- - GeoEllie said
  - 25 Jan 2015
    6:05 pm
lovely ideas., thankyou!

- - GeoEllie said
  - 25 Jan 2015
    2:45 am
Love the gratitude tip! I always try to work at that! Great article, lovely tips.

- - priyachirag said
  - 22 Jan 2015
    8:40 pm
Great article. Thanks for sharing.

- - mom57665 said
  - 14 Jan 2015
    12:58 am
Treat everyday as a gift! The miracle of LIFE!!

- - mom117219 said
  - 07 Jan 2015
    1:50 pm
yoga and meditation could help

- - mom105598 said
  - 01 Jan 2015
    11:26 pm
Rest, rest, no stress, yoga, counselling, or i lock myself in my room and scream into my pillow ad loud as i can and amazingly i feel slighty better lol.
- mom94125 replied
  
  02 Jan 2015 , 12:10 pm
  wow! at least you deal with it! i love how your comment is very honest. good on ya!
- - mom57808 said
  - 31 Dec 2014
    7:59 am
lets hope???

- - 191joannes said
  - 30 Dec 2014
    8:40 pm
helpful thanks for sharing

- - cherz said
  - 11 Dec 2014
    4:53 pm
Interesting and helpful tips..thanks for sharing.

- - tam_watters said
  - 11 Dec 2014
    1:36 pm
Examine the thoughts that fill your head when you feel anxious and decide how truthful they are. eg. I can’t do this, I am worthless. Ask why you think you are worthless, would others agree with you? Is it really true? Is it helpful to tell yourself this? Often our thinking patterns escalate when we give ourselves negative thoughts and comments.
- Danielle replied
  
  29 Jan 2015 , 11:33 pm
  Good read, great strategies to take on board.
- - mom57808 said
  - 11 Dec 2014
    8:47 am
I find that walking slowly , [ different directions for different scenery ] helps me to relax and to clear my thoughts

- - crystalangela said
  - 10 Dec 2014
    9:46 pm
They are really good ideas. Don’t know if I can but I will try.

- - rovermum said
  - 10 Dec 2014
    11:16 am
I think I’m getting better at acknowledging and practising this. I have regular beauty treatments (eg. facial, massage, pedicure); time to myself, coffee with friends; my own personal space at home. Acknowledging a stress or anxiety and sharing it with the family so it doesn’t become overwhelming. As I get older, it seems to be easier to manage.