If it feels like life is more stressful in 2019, then you’re not imagining things. In fact, young adults are having an even harder time than people in their 30s and 40s. A recent study found that depression and “serious psychological distress” is up in teens and young adults. There could be a few reasons for this, including the increasing prominence of social media. Other people may be freaked out by current events like climate change. And then there are some people who may feel stressed out but not really know why. While finding out why can be helpful, you also need to know how to address your stress. You can’t get better by simply wishing the stress away. Here are some ways to find stress relief.
Find a therapist
If your stress isn’t going away, your first step should be to look into professional help. Finding a therapist will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of insurance you have. Even then, calling around to various therapists’ office to find out who takes your insurance can aggravate your feelings of frustration — but it’s still worth doing.
If you don’t need to see someone within a specific network, that provides you with many more options. You’ll pay more out-of-pocket, but you may be able to get reimbursed in the long run. For instance, places like Therapy Group of DC can take your payment then submit claims electronically so you can receive an out-of-network reimbursement directly from your health insurance carrier, depending on your carrier and plan. With some plans, you might have to pay your deductible first, but after that, you should get a portion of your payment refunded.
After sorting out cost and insurance, you’re ready for your first therapy appointment. The first appointment may not necessarily be pleasant, as you begin to open up about your concerns and feelings. Of course, it shouldn’t lead to a panic attack, but you also shouldn’t expect a breakthrough in your very first meeting. It will take time to truly dig down into the source of your stress. However, very often people report feeling a lot better just taking first steps and meeting with a therapist. The key is to find a therapist who will make you feel as comfortable as possible. Progress isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it if you can get to the point where you actually look forward to your therapy sessions.
Cut free from toxic people
Everyone has at least one or two toxic people in their life. It could be a coworker who always makes comments about your lunch or a neighbor who insists you’re playing music at three in the morning even though you’re fast asleep. But even those people are usually easier to deal with than a toxic family member. When a relative treats you poorly and brings consistent and considerable misery to your life, cutting way back on contact with them may be the right solution. But familial guilt prevents a lot of people from making these kinds of changes.
When you’re growing up, you may think that the way a family member treats you is normal. If your parents have loud, violent fights all the time, that will seem like the standard to you. In many cases, it takes becoming an adult to realize that such behavior is not healthy or normal. This is where a skilled therapist can help you realize what’s going on. Your therapist might ask you if there are ways you can reexamine your relationship with them and begin to formulate ways to make changes to how, when, and how often you interact with them.
When circumstances become demanding, they can outweigh your resources to effectively dealing with life’s stressors. This results in mental, emotional, and physical tension, also known as stress. If you’re experiencing stress, it’s crucial that you take a step back and evaluate your situation. You may find that professional help is what you need. If so, be sure to seek it out to improve your peace of mind.
