talking helps, better out than in
Sharing how you feel with another human being usually helps to improve how you feel, whether that be a friend, family member or a buddy you found on the internet. Better out than in, as the saying goes. And it's true in many respects
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So what's the problem with bottling things up?
Well, it can cause even more stress plus anxiety.
Why? Because stress can feel a very solitary
battle at times. Opening up to others gives us
access to support & encouragement. And also,
a window into how other people might be
trying to manage their own stress
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This article is similar to one elsewhere in our wellness help pages about tackling anxiety. You might want to check out this other article if you think you're also suffering from anxiety, but it's not a biggy if you
don't have time
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Read on to find hints & tips about how to dial-down
your stress through the power of conversation
talking helps, better out than in
In other articles in our help pages, we talked about banishing feelings of anxiety. Here we're talking stress which is different to anxiety.
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Feelings of stress should pass as things in your
life begin to improve - unlike anxiety which has a tendency to stick around. The goal is to find ways to manage
your stress & its
symptoms until they pass
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Talking won't
banish the cause of a person's stress, but it
will dampen the symptoms of stress as
you try to deal with whatever is causing the stress in your life - read on to learn more
So, how does
talking help banish stress?
The simple act of talking to someone else,
even if it just involves talking about what's
going on in your life, helps dial-down
feelings of stress by:
Allowing us to hear words of support & encouragement
Offers us a window into other people's lives & how they try to manage their own stress
Helps us feel less isolated
- managing stress can
feel like a very solitary battle at times
The power of talking to others shouldn't be underestimated.
We spend a lot of time as a society talking about how to improve our physical
health. But for one reason or another, our mental health
& wellness is treated as a very distant second
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If you're not yet convinced, I've a bit of a bombshell for you. Scientific studies
have shown that being
a person who
spends time with others has as much impact
on our health as,
for example, whether
you are a smoker. No matter how much you look after your physical
health, if you're not
also investing in your mental wellness, then your physical health
will suffer
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A holistic approach to life is key
Okay, you've convinced me, so what
now
friends &
family
Speak to friends, family or trusted people
in your life about how stress is
making you feel. This is typically the best option for most people, but of course
depends on the quality of your
relationships with friends, family & trusted people in your life
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For hints & tips about how best to talk about how you feel, check out the below link
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Talking about how you feel can be difficult,
if talking to friends or family is not
an option, don't worry.
asking a professional
If you don't feel able to speak to friends, family or a new buddy on the internet, a trained professional might be a good fit
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If you'd prefer to talk to a professional about how you're feeling, there's a few options. The first is the more traditional route of speaking to your medical doctor who will help you find the right person. The second option is to find a professional yourself, options include:
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(1) checking out the online therapy platforms now widely available, for example 'talkspace' or 'betterhelp'
(2) approach a professional directly, you can do this online or by checking out the professional bodies who oversee this area
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If you're still feeling unsure, check out the link below for more advice
But, please remember
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Everyone is different. It's hard to generalise about these things as there are 101 different reasons about why you might be feeling the way you do.
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If you feel that you are not able to manage your feelings of stress on your own, please don't suffer in silence. Help is available. Please seek the help of a suitably qualified medical practitioner.