Experts say Spring is a great time of the year for mental health and stress cleaning.
SAN ANTONIO — Stress Awareness Month just wrapped up, but stress itself never takes a break. In this edition of Healthy SA, we find out how managing your stress year round can go a long way in helping your overall health stay in check throughout the year.
People tend to make health changes at the beginning of the year, often hearing the phrase “New Year, New You,” but mental health experts say Spring is often a better time to tackle the strife of stress because of the natural change of the seasons.
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“We have longer days. Most people have more energy because the sun is out longer,” said Lindsay Brathwaite, a marriage and family therapist. “There’s a natural sense of renewal. It’s proven that with more daylight.”
Stress may be a part of life, but that’s doesn’t mean it should be normalized.
“I feel like a lot of us don’t even know that we’re stressed out until we start seeing it impact our sleep, our physical health, and our relationships, even when it comes to making decisions,” said Brathwaite.
Some signs you are too stressed out include feelings of fear, anger, or sadness, changes in appetite, trouble concentrating, problems sleeping, and worsening of chronic health problems.
“You’re not feeling like yourself. You’re not even wanting to do things you once enjoyed,” said Brathwaite. “Those are all signs that you are under stress.”
Some tips to help you manage stress:
Take breaks from news and social media. Make time to unwind with deep breathing or meditation.Spend time outdoors being active. Try to do relaxing activities more often.Connect with others.
Also, take a few minutes out of the day to jot down anything that you feel caused you stress to help clear your mind.
“I like to say at nighttime, to just write down all the things that weighed us down throughout the day,” said Brathwaite.
And, if you think you aren’t able to manage stress on your own, look into speaking with a professional, even with online therapy.
“Who understands stress that can provide you with a much needed tools to address it, and you don’t have to do something big. Just take small, consistent steps,” said Braithwaite.