When you think about your health and wellness, your mind might immediately go to primary care issues such as avoiding illness or staying physically strong. However, one of the biggest factors in your long-term health and wellness is how well you manage stress. This is more than just a mental health issue!
At times, stress can feel overwhelming, taking a toll on both your present and future health. Chronic stress increases your risk of serious health conditions, including stroke and heart attack. You may also fall into a negative cycle in which poorly managed stress exacerbates your overall stress levels.
At Living Water Clinic — with locations in Porterville, Lindsay, Woodlake, and Visalia, California — our compassionate providers understand how crucial stress management is for your health and well-being. The experienced team at our family practice includes two licensed clinical social workers who provide mental health support services:
Here, we offer expert tips on how to manage stress better and improve your health and wellness now and in the years to come.
Our first piece of advice is simple but impactful: regularly assess your stress levels and focus on your stress management practices.
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of life and not even realize how frazzled you’re becoming. By checking in with yourself regularly about your stress levels and how you’re handling them, you can make more mindful decisions about managing stress.
Sometimes, stress hits hard, and there's no denying that it’s affecting you, sometimes quite severely. When this happens, reach for tools for immediate stress relief. These may include:
By supporting yourself during stress spikes, you can help your overall health and wellness.
If you’re going through a particularly stressful period, such as a death in the family, the loss of a job, or a major life change, it’s especially important to care for your body. Stress drains you more than you may realize, and your body needs plenty of support.
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep at night, and take breaks during the day to rest when necessary. Eat a healthy diet, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with lean proteins. The primary care doctors at Living Water Clinic can provide nutritional counseling to better support you.
Avoid turning to alcohol to cope with stress, as this puts extra strain on your body. Moderate exercise can be a great way to release excess stress while also keeping you physically healthy.
Major life changes are stressful for nearly everyone, but you may also have unique, personal stress triggers. Certain people, relationships, or situations might cause you to feel more stressed than usual. For example, clutter around the home or public speaking can be significant stressors for many people.
By becoming more aware of your stress triggers, you can better prepare yourself to manage your stress response. Keeping a journal or diary may help you identify patterns in your stress levels. Speaking with a therapist or mental health counselor, either in-person or virtually, may also be helpful.
Get ahead of stress to reduce its impact on your health and wellness. Call Living Water Clinic at 559-562-1361 to schedule an appointment for caring and effective stress support, or book your appointment online today.
