*This is a collaborative post.
We all experience stress from time to time. Knowing how to correctly deal with stress is important – there are various forms of stress relief that can do more harm than good. Below are some of the worst forms of stress relief and what you should be doing instead.
Abusing alcohol and drugs
Alcohol, cigarettes and various other drugs can be used to help reduce stress. However, you have to be careful not to abuse these substances as there could be various negative health effects. The odd alcoholic drink may not cause any issues, however frequently relying on heavy drinking to destress can lead to organ damage and mental illness in the long run. As for smoking, it’s best not to smoke at all due to the addictiveness and numerous bad health effects. As for illegal drugs, there are added dangers such as getting in trouble with the law or consuming toxic cutting agents.
Some drugs such as cannabis can be used as stress relief and may have less negative health effects in the long run. However, you’ve still got to be careful with these drugs (for some people it can make anxiety worse) and you’ve got to make sure you source it from the right place (when growing cannabis legally using the likes of these ICE cannabis seeds you don’t have to worry about dangerous cutting agents or additives). It’s best to self-medicate using legal herbal medicines (only use cannabis if it is legal where you live). Alternatively, if you suffer from severe stress, consider asking your doctor for prescribed medicine for anxiety.
Comfort-eating
A lot of people relieve stress by snacking on unhealthy foods. Sugary and fatty foods can offer a serotonin boost that makes us happier. However, the excess calories can lead to obesity and other related health problems such as diabetes in the long run – so it’s worth kicking this bad habit quickly before it gets too severe.
If you’re a comfort-eater who struggles with weight gain, consider how much you exercise. Physical activity is a great stressbuster and it will help you to shed that weight. You can find more tips on using exercise as a stressbuster here.
Binge-watching TV/endlessly scrolling through social media
TV and social media can be used to relieve stress, but it depends on the content you’re consuming and how you’re engaging with it. Watching hours of TV without truly being interested in any of it could make you feel worse about yourself. Meanwhile, there’s lots of social media content out there that can make us feel angrier and more worthless.
If you’re looking for a way to destress in the evening, try to find other activities to take your mind off things. Listening to music, reading a book or going out and meeting friends are much better forms of stress relief. You could also try taking a hot bath or meditating.
Taking it out on others
Many of us are prone to lashing out at others when stressed. Letting out anger can be an effective form of stress relief, but directed in the wrong places it can lead to people getting hurt, which will only lead to more stress.
There are much healthier ways to channel your anger such as taking out your frustration on a punch bag. Alternatively, you could try using humour to relieve stress – try to always see the funny side of the situation. Talking out your problems with other people (and not lashing out at them) is also a great way to relieve stress.
*This is a collaborative post.
Excellent post, very informative and very good advice. You have to have lived with to understand the pitfalls and the positive ways of dealing with stress and anxiety, perhaps more people will read it and understand how to deal with it. x