{"id":10559,"date":"2020-12-03T18:30:45","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T18:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prd-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=10559"},"modified":"2024-03-13T15:14:45","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:14:45","slug":"tips-for-dealing-with-stress-to-avoid-old-habits-and-maintain-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/tips-for-dealing-with-stress-to-avoid-old-habits-and-maintain-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for dealing with stress to avoid old habits and maintain goals","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Stress is unavoidable, especially now. But with the right tools, you can keep it from wrecking your goals, says Colette DeMonte, staff psychologist for the MultiCare Center for Weight Loss & Wellness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

DeMonte advises identifying tools and plans for dealing with stress ahead of time, so when it pops up, you have healthy strategies in place and don\u2019t fall back into old habits.<\/p>\n

Every stress response is different, but there are some common elements, DeMonte says. You might feel stress physically in the form of muscle tension, shortness of breath or an unsettled feeling in your stomach. \u201cThat\u2019s a normal reaction when your brain is perceiving something as stressful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have a hard-wired stress response called fight or flight,\u201d she explained at a recent virtual weight-loss support group meeting. \u201cIt helps us deal with a stressor we either have to fight or we have to run from.\u201d<\/p>\n

And though most times our stressors aren\u2019t truly life-threatening, our brains and bodies don\u2019t always realize that,\u201d she said. That\u2019s one benefit of stress and anxiety. \u201cEvery time you face something anxiety-provoking you are teaching your brain it is something you can survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stress can also cause emotional symptoms like anxiety or hopelessness, hamper your problem-solving skills or cause you to do things you wouldn\u2019t otherwise do \u2014 like overeat \u2014 to help alleviate the stress.<\/p>\n

Especially during the pandemic, when people feel stuck at home and dealing with fears about sickness, their jobs or helping children with remote learning, stress is amped up. \u201cWe can find ourselves using food as a way to deal with that stress,\u201d DeMonte said.<\/p>\n

Anxiety and the sense that you can\u2019t solve your problems can quickly snowball into feelings of hopelessness. \u201cIt\u2019s difficult to see different solutions when we\u2019re right in it,\u201d she acknowledged. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to seek help and counsel from loved ones or a psychologist who can help you clearly think through solutions.<\/p>\n

Of course, you can\u2019t control everything. And trying to fix a situation you have no control over is even more stressful, so it\u2019s important to recognize when things are out of your hands. \u201cIn situations you don\u2019t have control over it\u2019s not necessarily about finding an answer to change things, but rather, \u2018How do I deal with my feelings, so they don\u2019t overpower me?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re suffering from mental overload, try breaking your problems into smaller pieces rather than thinking you must solve everything at once.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve broken it down, prioritize and start tackling the most urgent things first. Make lists and use planners to set reasonable timetables. And, most importantly, give yourself credit and celebrate with each piece of the problem you solve.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeclutter,\u201d DeMonte advises. \u201cI don\u2019t mean \u2018stuff\u2019, though if we can create a clear space for us where we are physically, it also helps us mentally.\u201d Instead she says to get rid of \u201cnegative self-talk\u201d that you can\u2019t solve your problem.<\/p>\n

If stress is affecting your emotional well-being, DeMonte says your toolkit should include identifying your triggers. \u201cIf I\u2019m in the car and I already feel anxious because I don\u2019t like traffic \u2026 what are some things I might be able to do to make myself comfortable?\u201d Deep breathing, being mindful of your surroundings and asking yourself \u201cWhat do I hear? What do I see?\u201d can help head off anxiety when you\u2019re in an already triggering situation.<\/p>\n

When you are feeling anxious, take the time to process your feelings and try to figure out why you are reacting as you are. \u201cFocus on your breathing and think about how you can grow from this,\u201d she advises. \u201cWhile it may be a challenge, it will help you in dealing with future stressors.\u201d<\/p>\n

And though your fight or flight response may be telling you different, \u201ctry not to always see the stressor event as the end of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes, stress is a sign that you should reexamine your goals, DeMonte says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are focused on a goal that\u2019s causing stress for you, it may be time to review and look at that goal and how it fits into your personal values,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s say you are really stressed out because you are not feeling motivated to exercise or follow an eating plan,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat are the long-term effects of that and how does it tie into your personal values?\u201d Thinking about it that way can increase motivation and get you out of the stress spiral.<\/p>\n

\u201cSlow it down and remind yourself that you do have the tools,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

And after any type of stressful event, give yourself time to recover. \u201cThink of it like a physical illness. You want to give your body time to heal. It\u2019s the same with your spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stress is unavoidable, especially now. But with the right tools, you can keep it from wrecking your goals, says Colette DeMonte, staff psychologist for the MultiCare Center for Weight Loss & Wellness. DeMonte advises identifying tools and plans for dealing with stress ahead of time, so when it pops up, you have healthy strategies in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":315,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-weight-loss"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTips for dealing with stress to avoid old habits and maintain goals - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Identify tools and plans for dealing with stress ahead of time, so when it pops up, you have healthy strategies in place.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/tips-for-dealing-with-stress-to-avoid-old-habits-and-maintain-goals\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tips for dealing with stress to avoid old habits and maintain goals - 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