How to Find Peace During Overwhelming Stress or Depression

How to Find Peace During Overwhelming Stress or Depression
by Carolyn McFann

Stress is everywhere nowadays, but there are ways to cope to make life more comfortable during tough times. I am not a doctor, but have had suffered with depression and anxiety in my past. Due to much therapy, reading books and learning different ways to relax on my own, my life has drastically improved. When stress happens, I automatically use techniques to relax my mind, that work well for me. Here are some ways to cope that I've used in my recovery, to help give peace and positivity during stressful times.
When feeling depressed and stressed out, don't watch the news. Watch comedy, or something else less "heavy". Watch world or local happenings later when you want, but when feeling on "overload", don't watch anything potentially depressing or stressful. This isn't avoidance, it is self-preservation and helping yourself to regulate your mood. When the mind is on overload, it can grind to a halt and temporarily shut down, resulting in blocks of memory loss or other symptoms (feeling on "auto pilot", for example). The goal is calm and peace so be careful what you subject yourself to when anxious or depressed.
Make your atmosphere relaxing in different ways. Certain colors in your living environment promote calm, read up on which are best and use them. Listen to quiet, or calming music. Dim the lights a little. Whatever helps you to feel relaxed. Some light candles, others read something pleasant. Do something that is entertaining yet not overly stimulating. I watch a movie, or write in my diary. Whatever is comfortable for you.
Observe your pet (or someone else's). Pet them, and watch how they just take it all in, happily. Cats are experts at relaxation, see how calm they are when relaxed. Just stroking a dog or cat is helpful during depressing or stressful times, don't underestimate it. Animals can help take your thoughts off of your stress and onto them, it's their job.
Take care of your body. Avoid any stimulating beverages or foods. I love coffee, and have switched to half decaf to help improve my stress levels. Also, if your blood sugar isn't at the correct levels, that can add to stress, I've been told. If you haven't eaten, eat something with protein in it, like almonds, meat or cheese. The body reacts to what is put in it so treat it with kindness.
Try different relaxation methods and see what is most useful to your needs. I like guided imagery CD's, where a calm story is told by a narrator. It helps to redirect the mind and think of a more serene setting. Let go of control, let yourself experiment with different methods. Learn up on relaxation. Other ways to relax include self-hypnosis (CD's and DVD's by a reputable therapist), meditation, and learning about Buddhist views (which have many different calming techniques for relaxation). I'm not a Buddhist but some of their philosophies are interesting to me. Someone I know listens to the mellow sound of Gregorian Chants to relax his mind. Find what you like and use it as a tool in your arsenal against depression and anxiety.
Listen to positive messages, lectures or sermons. Surround yourself with positivity, especially when you don't feel cheerful. Depression can rob a person of positive feelings, so to fight that, record positive speeches off of tv or record yourself reading your own personal affirmations. Listen to them in your own voice to bring calmness and positivity back. When nobody is there for you, you can be there for yourself, and recording your own messages to yourself can be a powerful boost to morale.
Focus on one thing at a time. Try not to to do too many things all at the same time. Simplify and stop for a moment, take a deep breath. The idea is to unclutter a busy mind, and give it some breathing room to regroup and feel more peaceful.
Exercise. It helps your body produce chemicals that naturally lift the mood. Focus your mind wholeheartedly on what you are doing. Whatever sport makes you happy, from walking to horseback riding. Just get moving and help your body both mentally and physically. Listening to mellow music while exercising may help as well.
It is possible to train your mind to relax in times of stress. I have done it, and you can too. By using whatever techniques work best for you personally, you will be able to weather storms and spring back from them quicker. It just takes practise and the willpower to train the mind. Don't give up, it is well worth the effort it takes.
Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio. Her website is at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats . Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist and photographer. She has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico for two years, among other interesting professional assignments in other countries. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. Her focus is on realistic, natural artwork and illustration through her agent and her website. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

About the Author

Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio. Her website is at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats .Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist and photographer. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

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