Staying Calm in Stressful Situations

Stress and anxiety can have negative effects on your physical health if left untreated for long periods of time.  Constant stress can increase your risk for long-term health issues such as heart attacks and diabetes, which is why it’s important to reduce stress and anxiety and stay calm.  By staying calm you can make well thought out decisions under difficult circumstances.  

Staying positive is one way to help you stay calm in a stressful situation. When a stressful situation occurs, your mind may wander into a bunch of different scenarios.  Stop yourself from picturing the worst case scenario and instead focus on something positive.  

Don’t ask “what if” questions – this is another way to stay calm.  It is very common to ask “what if” in stressful situations.  Asking “what if” questions just increases the fear and escalates the problem. Instead focus on the facts and work toward a solution.

Staying healthy helps with staying calm in stressful situations.  Exercise has been proven to lower the level of stress hormones. A proper diet can reduce stress by strengthening the immune system, stabilizing moods and lowering blood pressure.  Some important nutrients that reduce stress are vitamin C, complex carbohydrates, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.  Also many people use certain herbs and tea which provide a calming effect such as chamomile, mint, barley tea, passionflower and valerian root.  

Also, meditating helps relieve stress in stressful situations. During meditation, you sit comfortably with your eyes closed, focusing on your breaths. Multiple studies have shown that meditation can help reduce levels of depression and anxiety. Research has also found that meditation can lead to enhanced ability to sustain attention.   

“Calm is the magic elixir that brings you to a place of balance, harmony and peace”-Donald Altman.

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• mental health