Psychiatrists often work with people to help them manage their stress. They help patients find effective ways to manage stress as well as point out any lifestyle behaviors or habits that make stress worse. There’s one habit in particular that psychiatrists say is common but makes stress worse, not better. Keep reading to find out what it is and what to do instead.
Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Jasmine Sawhne, MD, says that the absolute worst habit for stress is rumination. “By definition, rumination is the repetitive and unproductive overthinking about problems, past mistakes or worst-case scenarios,” she says. Dr. Sawhne explains that ruminating keeps the brain stuck in a stress loop, increases depression and anxiety and drains mental energy without solving anything.
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If stress is disrupting your day-to-day functioning, that’s when Dr. Sawhne says it’s important to seek professional help. Working with a therapist can help you find healthier and more effective ways of coping with stress than ruminating.
The Worst Way To Cope With Stress
Besides avoiding rumination, there’s a common coping mechanism to avoid when you’re stressed: using alcohol or other substances to feel better. Dr. Gail Saltz, MD, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and the author of The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius, recommends avoiding taking substances (including alcohol, drugs or medications not meant for anxiety or stress management, such as opioids) as a way to relax when you’re stressed. “These addictive substances do not reduce your stress in any ongoing way and they can actually cause a person to develop tolerance to the unhealthy substance requiring more and more for the same effect. This can lead to withdrawal if they try to stop, which basically creates a new abuse problem,” she says.
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It bears repeating that if stress is interrupting your daily functioning, it’s wise to seek professional help. Similarly, if you are finding it hard to cope with stress without using alcohol or drugs, this is another time to seek help.
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Sources
Dr. Jasmine Sawhne, MD, board-certified psychiatristDr. Gail Saltz, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and author of The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius Read More Details
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