Resources and Apps for Stress Management and Relaxation

Most all humans experience, at some point in their lives, worry, anxiety, negative self-talk, depression, and/or grief.

These thoughts and feelings can be quite consuming as well as physically and emotionally draining - making it hard to feel energetic, positive or even hopeful about the day to come.

It can get to a point where your negative thoughts and feelings feel more real to you than your positive and life-affirming thoughts and feelings.

Here is the truth:

Your positive and life-affirming thoughts and feelings are more important than your negative and anxious thoughts and feelings.

But without time, practice and energy given to those positive thoughts and feelings,

the negative thoughts and feelings will continue to take up more space in your head and heart.

In order for self-respect, compassion, acceptance, gratitude, love, hope, joy, and excitement to grow strong inside you,

you must give those feelings as much space - More space! - as you give the doubt, worry, hurt, fear, anxiety, anger and loneliness.

This takes time and it takes practice.

For here is another truth: You have more control over how you think and feel than our feelings lead us to believe. More specifically, you have more control over how you REACT to the thoughts and feelings that wander into your mind throughout the day. It just takes retraining the brain.

Here are some resources that show you "how."

 

  • Steps for Reducing Intense Feelings: This worksheet gives you a guide to start engaging with your thoughts and feelings differently as well as helping you identify more uplifting and joyful ways to direct your emotional and physical energy.
  • The Science of Happiness Podcast: What does it take to live a happier life? Learn research-tested strategies that you can put into practice today. Hosted by award-winning psychologist Dacher Keltner. Co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.
  • Self-Compassion Practices to Deepen Your Resilience: Resilience expert Linda Graham presents two ways you can ease anxiety and fear with the research-backed benefits of self-compassion.
  • Self-Care Wheel: printable PDF with some tips for how to round out your self-care practices.
  • A Guided Walking Meditation to Connect with Your Senses: Mindful walking can be a way to awaken our delight as we notice the sights, smells, and sounds in our surroundings.
  • Under 10-Minute Yoga Practices: Check out Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube! She is delightful and humorous and is a great go-to for all your yoga needs/curiosity.
  • Managing Stress and Anxiety Online Support Group: Parkland Counselors will facilitate as you share/vent, listen, and learn from your peers. Meetings will begin with an invitation to take 3-5 minutes to check-in. Participants can share their experiences and offer each other support. We will also take time to try out activities new ways of coping.