BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Q: I have noticed that I get extremely stressed out and overwhelmed nearly every day. Are there strategies that I can use to help feel better?

A: The stress of everyday life can be overwhelming for anyone. Whether it’s relationship problems, feeling unhappy at your job, or simply being annoyed at traffic, it’s very easy to have a glass half-empty view on life. Think about the last time someone asked you how your day went. Was it easy to vent and think about everything that caused frustration? Did you go on and on about all the negativity that happened, rather than the positive?

These are common complaints that people have throughout life. It’s cliché, but try to count your blessings, or Accumulate Positives, each day. It’s probably not realistic for most people to jump out of bed as soon as their alarm goes off and be super happy. But, if you take baby steps and just think of one thing to be grateful for, or to be happy about, it’s not as hard. You could try starting a gratitude journal; just write down things throughout the day that make you feel grateful. If that doesn’t sound like something you’re interested in, be mindful of these things as they happen and realize that there are positive points throughout your day. Before bed could also be a good time to look back at the good moments of your day. Another thing to keep in mind is when you’re asked how your day was, start with something positive. Instead of venting about something at work, think of something funny that happened, or how you heard one of your favorite songs and it made your day. Realizing and then vocalizing the positive moments of your day is a great start to reframing your mindset. If you are interested in learning more strategies that can help reduce stress and improve your overall quality of life, please contact Premier Behavioral Health Services. Stress and anxiety should never impede on your day to day life.

Justin Monty, MSSA, LISW Premier Behavioral

Health Service 8701 Mentor Avenue Mentor 44060 440-266-0770 www.pbhsohio.com