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No one has to tell you that being stressed out isn’t a good feeling. You already know that. All of us experience stress from time to time, and while it’s natural and adaptive in small doses, ongoing stress can have a number of negative physical and mental health consequences. It can show up in the way you think, feel, interact with the world, and yes, stress can even show up on your face. So, what can you do to support stress relief and feel better all-around?
Stress And Mental Health
First, let’s talk about the ways in which stress can impact your mental health. Long-term or prolonged stress may lead to:
- An increased risk of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety.
- An increased risk of depression or symptoms of depression.
- Difficulty in interpersonal relationships.
- Trouble at work, school, or in other important areas of life.
- Difficulty sleeping.
Stress can also lead to physical health consequences when prolonged, such as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Stress And Beauty
Now, you might be wondering, how does stress impact appearance? First, remember that aging is a beautiful and natural process. There’s nothing wrong with aging. That said, accelerated aging is a known impact of prolonged stress. In the case that stress is disrupting your sleep regularly, it can show up on your skin in the form of eye bags and premature wrinkles or fine lines. Stress can show up on your skin in the form of breakouts, and when severe, it can lead to thinning hair. On top of it all, stress has the potential to impact your self-perception and confidence, which is enough of a reason alone to work on stress relief and prevention.
Finding Stress Relief
Here are some practices to implement into your life for stress relief:
- Implement sleep hygiene and ensure that you’re getting enough sleep.
- Have healthy activities to turn to for relief, such as exercise, meditation, art, and spending time outdoors.
- Make sure that you’re engaging in positive social relationships with friends and other loved ones.
- Strive to maintain a work-life balance and set boundaries when needed.
- Use positive affirmations and self-talk.
- If your stress is persistent or ongoing, talk to a therapist or counselor.
Online Therapy
Online therapy is an excellent way to get the support that you need and talk about life stressors or other concerns. Using a platform like MyTherapist, it’s easy to get started. When you sign up, you’ll take a short questionnaire that’ll help you match with a provider who meets your needs. You can change providers or cancel services at any time, and it’s often more affordable than traditional in-person therapy. Whether you see someone in person or online, you deserve to get the support that you need, so don’t hesitate to reach out.