Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are normal for teens, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that they can be really harmful to your mental health. It's challenging to find resources that help, but don’t worry, we have your back!
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At State of Mind, our chief of mental health resources spent a lot of time finding resources to help cope with both stress and anxiety. In this section, we curated a collection of tips for meditating, healing anxiety, and dealing with stress. We created an anxiety evaluation sheet for feeling anxious, linked articles that talk about the importance of meditation, and provided an abundance of breathing exercise links.
State of Mind worked closely with a licensed psychiatrist to collect resources that would benefit our users. Below we have a collection of resources provided by a school psychiatrist that works closely with adolescents!
Northeast Psychological Wellness
State of Mind also had the privilege of working with Northeast Psychological, a New York based practice that works specifically in teletherapy. Dr. Kimmy Ramotar provided us with a variety of resources that she thought would be helpful for our users. It was a delight working with Northeast Psychological.
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Breathing Excercises
Breathing exercises are proven to help with stress management. Here are a list of free and easy guided breathing exercises:
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State of Mind Does Note Condone Self-Diagnosis
Getting a formal diagnosis by a licensed professional is the first step to managing your mental disorder. This can be done by contacting a mental health professional and going in for a visit. It is most likely you will be asked to answer questions and take a test that will give your doctor a diagnosis and can provide you with a clear roadmap to wellness.
Many people follow the standard root to getting a proper diagnosis, however, many people also self diagnose. They do this by, taking simple quizzes online or entering the rabbit hole of the internet. Self diagnosing is extremely harmful, not only is it commonly inaccurate but it can lead people to attempting to cure themselves with diets, over the counter medication, and other unsafe methods.
At state of mind we want to make sure all our users are safe and healthy; therefore, we urge all teens who feel as if they are struggling with a mental illness to seek out a healthcare professional who can give them a safe and proper diagnosis. However, mental disorders aren't the entirety of mental health, we have many resources that can help you cope, learn, and understand mental health and practice safe ways of dealing with it.
Tips for Coping with Stress and Anxiety
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America created a list of tips to cope with stress and anxiety.
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Take a time-out. Practice yoga, listen to music, meditate, get a massage, or learn relaxation techniques. Stepping back from the problem helps clear your head.
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Eat well-balanced meals. Do not skip any meals. Do keep healthful, energy-boosting snacks on hand.
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Limit alcohol and caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety and trigger panic attacks.
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Get enough sleep. When stressed, your body needs additional sleep and rest.
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Exercise daily to help you feel good and maintain your health. Check out the fitness tips below.
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Take deep breaths. Inhale and exhale slowly.
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Count to 10 slowly. Repeat, and count to 20 if necessary.
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Do your best. Instead of aiming for perfection, which isn't possible, be proud of however close you get.
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Accept that you cannot control everything. Put your stress in perspective: Is it really as bad as you think?
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Welcome humor. A good laugh goes a long way.
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Maintain a positive attitude. Make an effort to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
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Get involved. Volunteer or find another way to be active in your community, which creates a support network and gives you a break from everyday stress.
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Learn what triggers your anxiety. Is it work, family, school, or something else you can identify? Write in a journal when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, and look for a pattern.
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Talk to someone. Tell friends and family you’re feeling overwhelmed, and let them know how they can help you. Talk to a physician or therapist for professional help.​
Additional Resources
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NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
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National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) focuses on the issues and needs of more than 1,200 free and charitable clinics and the people they serve in the United States; offers an application for discount pharmacy cards.
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Thero.org, a collective of mental health care providers and consumers of mental health services
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Treatment Advocacy Center: Eliminating barriers to the treatment of mental illness
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