National Stress Awareness Month!

March 12, 2025

April is National Stress Awareness Month! Stress is our physical or mental response to challenging situations. Stress is universal, it’s something experienced across different ages and stages of life. For example, a tough assignment in school, a job interview, a difficult conversation with a family member, or running late for an event can all cause stress to individuals. Stress impacts everyone differently but it may cause emotional or physical reactions, such as feelings of worry or frustration, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and stomach aches. Taking small steps to manage stress can help alleviate these symptoms and have a big impact. Below are helpful ways to manage stress:

• Take deep, slow breaths

• Practice mindfulness (awareness of the present moment)

• Stretch your body

• Spend time outside

• Spend time doing calming activities, such as drawing, reading, or taking a bath

• Meditate

• Go for a walk or other forms of exercise

• Get enough sleep

• Connect with others

• Practice gratitude

• Journal

• Take a break from the news

• Eat healthy meals

• Stick to a routine

• Avoid excess caffeine

Take time to figure out what is triggering your stress as well as which healthy techniques work for you! There are many apps available to help with deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation. For example, check out Headspace and Calm. Some people enjoy hobbies such as drawing, knitting, coloring books, and baking. What activities do you find calming?

If your symptoms seem more severe or don’t seem to be going away over time, it may be helpful to seek out care from a mental health professional.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 16). Managing stress. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/living-with/index.html# 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). I’m so stressed out! fact sheet. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/so-stressed-out-fact-sheet