Every year April is recognized as “Stress Awareness Month,” where many people focus on their mental health, do things they enjoy, and use healthy coping strategies.

The purpose of stress awareness month is to increase public awareness of the causes of modern stress, which has been recognized annually since 1972. Globally, over 37% of adults reported being significantly stressed every day, and over the past years, it has increased by 8-9 percent.

Being stressed could also have physical effects on your body, such as headaches, stomach disorders, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease or stroke. But there are ways to prevent these mental and physical effects. 

Seek counseling

Going to see a counselor/therapist is important to do when stressed because it can help you gain tools and skills for managing anxiety and stress. It also helps so you won’t burn out and will just overall improve your mental and physical health. But most importantly, it is a safe space where you can talk, cry, and develop helpful mechanisms. 

Exercise And healthy eating 

Doing the regular things like eating right and exercising will also help your mental health as well. It also allows you to have better sleep at night and is less likely for you to be tired the next morning. Doing this, you will also have emotional strength. Exercising regularly can act as a strength against stress, causing the negative emotions to go away. And lastly, it makes the brain feel good and turns the negative pain into happiness. This is what we call an “endorphin boost.” 

Do the things you love

When doing the things that you love iit not only makes you happy but releases dopamine, which decreases your anxiety and stress levels, and increases your mood. Activities like hanging out with friends and family restore your happiness and even help you to be happy and forget about everything going on around you in your alone time.