Managing Stress and Anxiety

Stress

Life can be stressful for many people, regardless of their circumstance. Stress can start to impact both your physical and mental well-being. We at Freedom-Scooters will look at 7 ways to help you deal with stress to make life a little easier.

If you or a loved one is struggling with mobility issues, there are a variety of options on today’s market to make life easier. There are many devices and tools that can make getting around so much easier.

Whether it is a mobility scooter, or an electric wheelchair Freedom Scooters can help you find the right solution.

It is important not to underestimate the importance of stress management as stress can have a big impact on both your body and mind.

  High-stress levels can cause:

• High blood pressure
• Heart issues
• Poor sleep
• Weakened immune system.
• Tension headaches
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Low mood

Here we will look at 7 ways to deal with stress.

Exercise.

Get moving, whilst this is harder for people with mobility issues, contact your local gym and explain your circumstance and they can put together an exercise plan to suit your needs. Check out Sport Ireland.

It is recommended that everyone should get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. This will help to reduce your stress and anxiety levels by encouraging the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormones!

Meditation.

Meditation is a fantastic way to reduce stress and anxiety. It can be hard to start with, so don’t try to meditate for to long, start with 5 minutes and then you can build up the time you take.  There are loads of options online to listen to some soothing music while you relax.

Journaling.

Journaling may help reduce stress and anxiety and provide a positive outlet for your thoughts and emotions.

A 2018 study noted that expressive writing or therapeutic writing can benefit people managing chronic health conditions, including but not limited to mental health conditions like depression.

They noted that regular journaling may be linked to a higher quality of life, more proactive self-care behaviours, and other healthful behaviours, such as taking prescribed medications.

You can also try a guided journal if you’d prefer more targeted, expressive writing.

Laughter.

This one may seem trivial, but laughter really is the best medicine! Surrounding yourself with people who make you happy, make you laugh, and just generally put you at ease is bound to reduce your stress levels.

Connect with others.

This is especially important if you have mobility issues or struggle to get out of the house. Social media and the internet enable you to connect with anyone, anywhere all from the comfort of your own home. It’s also often easy to isolate yourself when you’re stressed, but it’s important to reach out to others even if it’s just for a distraction.

Get creative.

Whether it’s musical or art, getting creative is a good stress reliever as it provides a fun distraction. This could be anything from adult colouring to crocheting, joining a choir or a local social group i.e., a local Men’s Shed or Women’s Shed.

Talk about it.

A problem shared truly is a problem halved. Sometimes you may not have the time or energy to try any of the above, however talking about your worries and stresses is bound to make you feel better. A friend or family member may be able to offer solutions to help or can just be there to listen to you vent to make you feel less alone.