How to deal with stress – without hitting a wall (or a bar).

That’s all exactly how stress can affect your life mentally health. Much scientific research shows that long-term, chronic stress is also terrible for physical health. Sorry to be dramatic and all, but stress can kill you. “(Long-term stress can) contribute to physical problems such as heart problems, weight gain or sleep disorders such as insomnia,” says Fierheller.

Okay, you got your wake-up call. Now the big question: what’s the best way to deal with stress?

How to prepare for stressful times in advance

Offense can really be your best defense when it comes to dealing with stress. Psychotherapist Chase Cassine, LCSW, says one of the best ways to manage stress preventively is to get good, consistent sleep. Not getting enough sleep causes the body to produce more cortisol. Of course, feeling stressed can make it difficult to sleep, which is where the tips in the next section come in handy.

Cassine says eating a balanced diet also makes it easier to deal with anxiety-inducing events when they occur. This is because Filling up on mostly ultra-processed foods can cause inflammationwhich can contribute to feelings of anxiety due to the impact on neurotransmitters in the brain (mainly lowering serotonin and increasing cortisol).

Maintaining a strong support system is also critical to being prepared for tough times, Cassine says. Keep an eye on those guys’ nights out, don’t ignore your friends when they text you, and maybe even consider joining the group you’ve heard about. “Reach out to friends to connect with them in real life and cultivate those interpersonal connections,” says Cassine.

Thewes says it’s important to regularly do something that makes you happy at least every day. This isn’t just fluffy advice; he says it helps build resilience. Whatever your happy place is: a long run, reading to your child, making dinner with your partner, watching again Crazy men-find the time to do it.

What to do when stress gets the best of you

It’s helpful to have habits that make dealing with anxiety-provoking circumstances easier, but you still need a plan for when you feel overwhelmed or tense. First, it can be helpful to take deep breaths, or actually a few breaths.