Mental H2O Inc.

An official 501 (c)(3) Non-profit Organization



We seriously do need to learn how to properly cope with these things, I think it's amazing that we are now building a community to rely on one another.



A teen resident in Riverview FL



It is something even adults struggle with, we cannot erase the feeling, but we can definitely make it easier to deal with.



Daniela Rodriguez, Director of Marketing at Mental H2O Inc.



How to manage your stress





What Exactly Is Stress?



Have you ever felt overwhelmed, an upset stomach, or find yourself pacing back and forth over situations that make you feel as if you have no power or control? Stress, it is something that all humans experience at least once in their lives, and for many others, probably more than one hundred times.





Built up stress can cause our body to react in a certain way as a response to the feeling. Changes in sleep pattern, acne, or headaches can all be caused from stress. As kids and teens, we are learning how to adjust with a different lifestyle. Many of us feel stressed out on a daily basis, bombarded by so many responsibilities were still learning to handle, it can feel overwhelming. What exactly can we do to help ourselves now, so our stressors can be easier to handle in the later future?



The power of mindfulness





The key to being mindful is to be in the moment. One thing that is practiced and worked on gradually in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is the concept of "Mindfulness". Often times we get ourselves worked up and believe the world is at an end, we jump to absurd conclusions, we freak out over the smallest things, and we trick ourselves into thinking there is no solution for the situations we find ourselves in. Believe it or not, but doing exercises that may seem like "nothing" actually does improve levels of anxiety. Sometimes it calms the anxiety as a whole, for others it may be to a certain extent.



How to implement mindfulness





A lot of these quick mindfulness exercises are short, simple, and easy to remember. The key is to live in the moment. A lot of our stressors may be small and controllable, and sadly some are not. Its the key to experiencing life. We cannot control the outside inflictors that seep into our everyday lives, but we can control how we respond, control our behavior, and manage our thoughts. Bring your attention to the present by conducting the 4-7-8 breathing technique, breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8.



Control



Learn how to tackle what is stressing you, instead of viewing your situation with doubt and worry, here is how we can do this:



  • First of all, think about all the other times you were able to persevere through other stressors, be proud of how much you were able to battle
  • Collect your thoughts, write down or type on your "Notes" area in your phone what you're going to do to combat the stress, figure out what you can control.
  • You have power of your responses, think to yourself, "What is the best way to respond to my situation". By this, you are observing your thoughts, being mindful.
  • Calm your body first then tackle the mind, if it is a situation you cannot respond to or have no control over, revert back to your thoughts and remind yourself that you can in fact overcome this.
  • Always talk to yourself in a positive manner, your thoughts will start to damage you more if you remain a pessimist* outlook on things.
  • Start small first, if you're not ready to tackle your situation or to asses your stressors, always start with the 4-7-8 breathing technique.
  • Remember, you are in control of your own life. Things do not get better without your power to try. Having a good support

Pessimistic- tending to see the worst aspect or automatically assume the worst outcome in a situation.



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