Is stress impacting your mental health?

Laughing can help reduce stress - give it a try!

According to the National Institute on Mental Health, "Stress is a physical and emotional reaction that people experience as they encounter challenges in life... Your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure go up, your muscles tense, and you sweat more." 

Everyone experiences stress and "good" stress can be a useful motivator for problem solving and productivity; however, poor management of long-term or "bad" stress can contribute to an array of health problems (e.g. cardiac, digestive, and sleep disorders and increased symptoms for those who suffer with anxiety, depression and other mental health difficulties).

While we can't stop stress from happening, we can choose our mindset for approaching stressful situations and research has shown that people who reinterpret their stress as a means of enhancing their performance are healthier in both mind and body. In fact, our bodies even have a built-in mechanism for lessening its impact- the relaxation response.  Here are a few tips on how to activate it: 

* Know Yourself- Identify the things that make you feel stressed and think about what you can do to be proactive to avoid them.


* Laugh- Research shows that laughing can reduce your stress hormones and raise your HDL "good" cholesterol.  Bonus points if you laugh with other people as social contact is also a proven stress reliever.


* Take a Walk- A 10-minute walk can help you feel more relaxed by boosting endorphins (happy hormones) that combat those stress hormones that can make you feel tired and cranky. 


* Spring Clean- Your outsides match your insides! Being in cluttered spaces can negatively impact your mood, increasing stress and anxiety. 


* Sleep Well- Getting good, quality sleep can reduce stress levels.  Have a hard time sleeping? Try this:

* Wind Down- Limit screen time 30-60 minutes before bed (or, at least set your screen to dark or night mode to keep those pesky blue lights from stimulating your brain).

* Quiet Down- If you have a hard time sleeping in silence, try listening to a fan or sound machine that can play white noise, rain, or a campfire. Got an AI? Ask it to tell you a sleep story.

* Cool Down- Did you know that the experts recommend setting the temperature between 60-67 degrees for optimal sleep?

Written by: Rachael Rivera, LCSW
Access: Supports For Living
Family Services & Project REACH Director