Do you sometimes feel a lot of pressure and burden on your mind from the moment you wake up in the morning? Office work, household problems, children's work, money problems... When these things come one after another, you get tired of everything and feel like your head is going to explode, right? We all feel this kind of pressure, that is, stress , at one time or another in our lives. It is very normal. But the most important thing is that we learn to control this stress and face it instead of letting it control us. Today, we will talk about this.
Why is it so important for us to learn to cope with stress?
Simply put, 'coping' with stress means trying to keep our mind and body as balanced as possible, without letting it collapse, when faced with challenges, problems, or things that are difficult for us to handle in life. This is like trying to control a ship during a storm.
We often use the word 'stress' in connection with bad things in life. Think about it, when we lose a job, when we lose a loved one, or when we suffer a serious illness or tragedy, we feel a lot of stress. It's true.
But did you know that even the best things in life can be stressful ? Isn't it amazing? Imagine getting married. As exciting as it is, organizing the wedding, adjusting to a new family, new responsibilities... all of this comes with a lot of pressure. The same goes for having a new baby. It's the greatest joy in the world. But at the same time, staying up late, taking care of the baby, and all of this new responsibilities can be very stressful for both parents.
So why do these changes stress us out? Because, we have to adapt to any big or small change in our lives. It requires extra energy and effort from our mind and body. If we experience too many changes in a short period of time, we start to think, "Oh, I can't control anything."
This feeling of "no control" is the most dangerous. It reduces our self-confidence, and sometimes it can even lead to mental illnesses like anxiety and depression . Not only that, but constant stress can even cause physical illnesses, or worsen existing illnesses.
Some stressors are short-term. For example, moving to a new house. Once the work is done, the stress will subside. But some stressors are long-term. Things like chronic pain, an incurable illness, or ongoing financial problems. When we live with such long-term stress, our body's stress-related hormones remain high, which over time can weaken our bodies and make us more susceptible to illness.
Okay then, what methods can we use to cope with this stress?
Dealing with stress is like a toolbox. There are different tools for different problems. Not all tools work the same way. Here are some of the tools we can use. I'll explain them in a table.
| Coping method | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Lower your expectations. | Don't think that everything has to be 100% perfect. Sometimes it's a great relief to just say, "This is enough." |
| Ask others for help. | Don't be shy to ask, "I'm having a hard time doing this alone, can you help me?" It's not a weakness, it's a strength. |
| Accept the situation and take responsibility. | Instead of running away from the problem, think, "Okay, this is the situation, what do I do now?" and focus on what you can do. |
| Try to solve the problem. | Identify exactly what the problem is, make a list of possible solutions, and try them one by one. |
| Maintain friendly relationships. | Talk to your friends and family who love you and understand you. Share what's on your mind. It's the greatest medicine. |
| Control (or release) emotions | Sometimes it's important to stay calm. But sometimes, it's even more important to vent your sadness and anger with someone you trust. |
| Step away from the problem a little. | Instead of constantly thinking about the same thing, take your mind off things for a while. Watch a movie, listen to a song, read a book. |
| View from a religious perspective | If you are a religious person, you can gain great mental peace through meditation, visiting temples/churches/temple, and participating in religious rituals. |
The same method doesn't work for everything, right?
This is very important. Dealing with stress is not a one-time thing. It is a process . Even if you have the same problem, you may need to use several of the methods mentioned above in turn at different times.
Also, as people, we are all different. Some people want to solve a problem when it comes up. Others want to talk to a friend and express their feelings. There is nothing wrong with this. What is important is to be flexible . That is, to be able to choose the best way to deal with the situation.
Let's look at an example. Imagine that you are under a lot of stress at the office because you can't finish a project. The most appropriate method here is the 'trying to solve the problem' method. That is, breaking the work into parts, making a plan, and working on it. But imagine that someone in your family has an incurable disease. You can't change that. There is no point in 'solving the problem' in that case. In such a situation, the most appropriate methods are 'maintaining friendly relations' and 'expressing feelings'. Do you understand the difference?
Your best shield against stress
No matter how many ways we talk about it, the best and most powerful thing we can do to protect ourselves from stress is to have good relationships with other people. Thousands of studies have proven that the feeling that there is someone to tell you your feelings, to ask for help, to understand you, protects you from the bad effects of stress.
So, never forget the relationships you have with your family and your closest friends. No matter how busy your life gets, find time to talk to them and meet them at least once a week. It's the biggest investment you can make in yourself.
Let's start with your lifestyle?
When you're dealing with a lot of stress, it's important to take a look at your entire lifestyle. Because our daily habits have a huge impact on our ability to cope with stress. Here are some simple, yet very effective things you can add to your life.
| What to do | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| Get enough, good sleep. | Sleep is a time for the mind and body to 'recharge'. It is essential to get at least 7-8 hours of good sleep a day. Stop looking at your phone and TV an hour before bed. |
| Eat a balanced diet. | When stress increases, you may feel like eating sweet and oily foods. But these foods only add more weight to your body and mind. Drink plenty of vegetables, fruits, and clean water. |
| Exercise regularly. | When we exercise, our bodies release hormones that make us feel happy. Just 30 minutes of brisk walking, running, or dancing a day can make a big difference. |
| Take short breaks during the day. | Instead of working continuously, get up and walk for 5 minutes every hour, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Give your head a little freedom. |
| Do something fun. | Spend at least 15 minutes a day doing something you enjoy. It could be listening to music, playing with your pet, or planting a flower in the garden. |
| Practice calming exercises. | Things like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises can be incredibly calming. You can even learn these online. |
| Avoid caffeine and alcohol. | Even though these are used to relieve stress, they actually increase stress. These only provide temporary relief, but in the long run they cause great harm. |
Remember, if you are still unable to cope with the stress and are feeling overwhelmed, or unable to perform your daily tasks, it is never too late to see a doctor for advice . It is not something to be ashamed of. Just as we see a doctor when our bodies are sick, it is also important to seek help when our minds are troubled.
Life is a journey full of challenges. Stress is something we will always encounter on that journey. We cannot escape it. But we can face it, live with it, and learn to use it as our strength.
Take-Home Message
- Stress is a normal response to changes in life. Even good changes can be stressful.
- Long-term stress can harm you both mentally and physically.
- There is no one way to deal with stress. Be flexible and use different methods to suit the situation.
- Your best protection is your family and trusted friends. Maintain those relationships well.
- Simple things like good sleep, a balanced diet, exercise, and relaxation can go a long way in managing stress.
- If you feel like you're having a hard time coping with this stress on your own, never hesitate to see a doctor for advice.
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