No matter how well you plan or how good your life tends to be, there will invariably be times when you’re just stressed out of your mind. Whether relationship difficulties strike, you encounter obstacles in your career or are struggling with your health, you can quickly become overwhelmed in a way that completely undermines your overall well-being.
High stress levels can result in having severe mental and physical symptoms and can damage your overall health. At times of severe stress, you may also start to panic or have an anxiety attack. However, there are smart things you can do to counteract stress and calm yourself down… Keep reading to discover how to calm down when seriously stressed. Plus, learn how to ease panic and anxiety during these stressful times.
These 10 tips and techniques can help you to calm down when seriously stressed, both quickly and effectively.
Experts say that pushing your palms together for about 7-8 seconds can instantaneously help to reduce stress levels by anchoring your body in space.
This easy technique taps into your body’s proprioception system and is very grounding. Hold for longer (up to 10-15 seconds) if you’re feeling especially strung out.
Most of us can remember using a bubble wand to blow bubbles in childhood; what a fun and relaxing activity! You can use a similar technique to adjust your breathing in a way that reduces stress.
Put your dominant hand over your heart, and the other over your stomach, then inhale for a count of five (through your nose). Hold your breath for five seconds, then breathe out for a count of five; doing so through pursed lips, as though you’re being careful to avoid popping an emerging bubble.
This is a wonderful way to combat stress, as it’s not only powerful but also discreet; you can do it anywhere, whether you’re in the middle of a crowd, sitting on a plane or working in the office.
Just use the thumb of one of your hands to press into various spots on the palm of your other hand; you’ll immediately feel soothed. Consider swapping over to the other hand when you’re done (and if you have some nice hand cream to use during the massage, so much the better).
