If your life feels out of control, it’s time to take it back, beginning with your mindset about what you can and what you will allow to upset you.

No, you won’t be able to change your nattering co-worker or the amount of traffic during your commute, but you can train your brain and body to shut it out or look at it differently. And you can relish the good moments that also set your heart racing. 

First, recognize the signs: headaches, sleepless nights, upset stomach, achy muscles, and chest pain. And of course, the need for a glass of wine when you get home. This is no way to live. If you are dodging sex out of lethargy or exhausting rumination, then you should be inspired to change your ways.

The sooner that you rein in your stress levels, the less damage that cortisol and adrenaline will do to your body as it keeps you on high alert, even after you get home and try to unwind. If you don’t, prepare for a future with heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, which are definite stressors. So, let’s break the cycle, starting today.

Taking Charge of Your Stress Levels

You’ve seen people who seem to shrug off stress and get on with their day. Those are your new role models. Don’t waste your time with drama queens. Instead, adopt these new habits:

• Breathe deeply. Each ‘out’ breath should take twice as long as your ‘in’ breath. Focus on making your chest and abdomen rise and fall. Block out the rest of the world and feel the oxygen enter your system and clear your head.
• Get a calming app and use it in a moment when you’re on edge. Yes, you can take a minute or two for yourself.
• Meditate for 5 minutes twice a day, then add more time as you learn to love it.
• Exercise by doing something you love. Forget what is trendy and have fun. If you want to dance, go for it. The goal is to sweat and smile.
• Write down good things that happen to you, so you make sure to recognize them. Journal about how they made your day or how they make you grateful.
• Leverage your friends to vent, share, and laugh. Keeping your friends close is a great antidote for a bad day.
• Accept what you can change and forget the rest. There is no point investing energy in things that are beyond your control. Find a better way to change the world your way.
• Finish what you can and don’t sweat the rest of the list. Of course, you need to prioritize wisely but don’t beat yourself up if you have one niggling job left over at the end of your shift.
• Treat yourself to some ‘me’ time. Watch The Bachelorette. Walk the dog. Putter in your garden. Don’t let other people put you second all the time.
• Plan your days or week so you don’t lose control. If meals are a stressor, do batch cooking or commit to takeout a certain number of nights per week. Recognize what is going to throw you off and prepare for it.
• Forgive yourself. You may not be perfect, but you are doing the best you can. Celebrate your wins.

If Coronavirus Anxiety Is Bothering You

The current pandemic is beyond your control so don’t let it get you too down. It’s important to maintain your health and to make your days feel as normal as possible. 

• Replace your old routine with a new one. If the one you started in March isn’t working for you, go back to the drawing board. Do you have to be up and at your desk at 9 a.m.? If not, work later into the day so you can work out in the morning without rushing. 
• Focus on your daily achievements, even if they are different than a year ago. Sure, you didn’t get to the gym, but you learned how to make a frittata. Revel in your victories.
• Stay in touch with loved ones. They miss you too, so reach out and brighten their evenings.

If You Are Still Struggling

If a sunnier outlook and self-care are not cutting it, try to use massage or acupuncture to soothe your stress. You may need to turn to a therapist to train you on additional techniques to dial down your body’s response to life.

Once you’ve found the right provider or therapist, share this information:

• What are you experiencing physically and emotionally, in addition to behavioral symptoms? Describe your symptoms and how you are coping with them.
• How your symptoms are affecting your everyday life? Be brutally honest.
• Describe the stressful situations that you experience and how you coped with them, or not.
• Provide your medical history and list of medications.

Stress can be a powerful demon that can be tamed. Don’t do it alone. Lean on family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to help you ride it out. Hopefully, they can guide you through it with a smile.

Reference: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/can-stress-kill-you