Kwaraloaded Exclusive: How to handle stress

Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.

As humans, it’s normal for us to be stressed. It can be triggered by work, school, family/ relationship issues, financial issues, or any challenge. Stress can be short-term or long term and it’s part of being human.

Signs of stress include:

1. Worrying and anxiety
2. Loss of weight
3. Chest pain
4. Overreacting
5. Body pain
6. Increased blood pressure
7. Changes in the menstrual cycle
8. Inability to concentrate.
9. How to handle stress:

Recognize what triggers it: Stress can be triggered by different things happening in your life. It can be pressure from work or school, not getting what you want, demands from family, or toxic relationships with friends or lovers. Recognizing what triggers, will help you know what step you should take next.
Talk to yourself: Talking to yourself will help you process your feelings especially if you don’t want to talk to anyone about it. It can help you boost your mental health and relieve stress if you can make the most of it by staying positive words to yourself instead of speaking harshly to yourself.
Talk to your friend about it: Sometimes you just need someone to hear you out. Talking to friends you love can help relieve stress. Talking to them will make you feel calm and relieved.
Listen to music: Music is therapeutic. Listening to music can help you take your mind off what’s bothering you. Whenever you’re stressed, don’t forget to plug in your earpiece and listen to classical music.
Try journaling: Writing about your feelings and thoughts can help reduce stress because it serves as an escape release of negative feelings. You can start by keeping a gratitude journal and writing down things you are grateful for. You can also start an emotional release which is writing down how you feel and your emotional responses to things around you.