When it comes to mental health, there are a lot of misconceptions that can cloud our understanding and impact our approach to personal wellness, including the idea that stress is inherently harmful. While stress can sometimes lead to negative health outcomes, it can also be a natural and beneficial response in certain situations.
Join us during Mental Health Awareness Month as we debunk mental health myths and provide actionable steps for you and your peers in the healthcare setting.
Myth: Stress should always be avoided as it’s harmful.
Fact: Stress is a natural response, and not all stress is detrimental to your well-being.
Stress often gets a bad rap, but it’s important to realize that it’s not always a bad thing. In fact, a bit of stress can be a motivator, helping us tackle challenges and reach our goals. However, too much stress, especially over a long period, can take its toll on our mental and physical health. So, it’s crucial to know when stress is becoming overwhelming and to have healthy ways to deal with it.
Here Are 4 Steps to Help Deal with Stress:
- Recognizing Signs of Stress: It’s essential to be able to spot the signs of stress early on. These signs may show up as changes in behavior, physical symptoms, or emotional responses. Being able to recognize these signs means you can take action before things get out of hand.
- Addressing Mental Health Emergencies: When someone is in the midst of a mental health crisis, quick action can make all the difference. Really listening and connecting the person suffering with the right help can save their life. Keep a list of resources handy, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (dial ‘988’) and the Crisis Text Line number (741741).
- Promoting Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Encouraging healthy habits and ways to de-stress is key. That might mean keeping up with friends and family, getting enough sleep and eating healthy food, staying active, or trying out relaxation techniques like meditation or mindfulness.
- Utilizing Available Resources: There’s access to all kinds of resources to help with stress, like our resources, Dealing with Stress: Healthy Habits and Resourcesand Use Strategies to Keep Stress at Bay, crisis hotlines, online support groups, mental health apps like BetterHelp, and organizations that offer support and training. Knowing where to turn when things get tough can make a world of difference.
For more in depth information, check out our resource, Dealing with Stress: Healthy Habits and Resources.
Stay tuned for our upcoming myth busting blog: Burnout Prevention Among Healthcare Professionals.
Mental Health Resources for Pharmacists