I do things that exacerbate my stress,Niro Feliciano, a psychotherapist and author, told HuffPost.
And I know that Im doing them, but its natural as humans.
Even therapists can fall into these stress traps, she said.
These types of behaviors are often a form of avoiding emotions, which can lead to even more stress.
Strong emotions need to be felt, processed and managed.
Telling Yourself To Stop Thinking Bad Thoughts
When I have catastrophic thoughts that something will turn out really badly …
I do not avoid these thoughts, saidCalvin Fitch, a licensed clinical health psychologist.
And sometimes that can actually complicate things.
Getting lots of different advice from others can distract from what youre actually feeling.
Usually that will lead you to more clarity than just stagnating, she said.
I find that the sounds leave my thoughts spiraling, almost like my thoughts are on a caffeine kick.
Listening to music with slow, calming tempos can help physically relax and quiet the mind, she explained.
This can increase stress levels and cause more anxiety, panic and depressive symptoms, she said.
Instead, Feliciano focuses on setting firm boundaries and prioritizing.
I start to say no to the things that are nonessential, she said.
I look at things that can be postponed and delayed and make more bandwidth in my life for self-care.
If we dont intentionally make time for self-care, no one has time for it.
This helps organize her thoughts and reduce the pressure of remembering them.
When were stressed, were in fight-or-flight mode and … our cognitive abilities become impaired, Feliciano explained.
We actually use a lot of neurological energy just to remember a list.
Ignoring The Stress Or Pretending Its Not There
Avoidance never works.
Barnett has found that pushing through stress like its not there only makes it worse.
Alternatively, he tries to give himself permission to take a break to do something relaxing or rejuvenating.
Even the smallest things [begin] to feel overwhelming, she said.
For stressors that are beyond her control, she uses coping skills like deep breathing and journaling.
Just because a technique is effective for someone else doesnt mean that it will work for you.
Most importantly, dont be afraid to ask for help, Siddiqi said.
As human beings, we are not meant to heal alone.
This article originally appeared onHuffPost.
