Why do we put pressure on ourselves? This is a question with no easy answer, but the most common reasons people put pressure on themselves are because they feel like they have to do well in a certain area of their life or they feel like they have to do well so that people around them will be proud of them.
Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope. People have different ways of reacting to stress, so a situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else.
Being more emotional than usual. Feeling overwhelmed or on edge. Trouble keeping track of things or remembering. Trouble making decisions, solving problems, concentrating, getting your work done.
Physical activity releases feel-good endorphins. Taking short walking breaks several times a day is a powerful tool for channeling stress. Exercising or joining yoga, dance, or tai chi classes with friends also helps achieve step 2—staying connected.
Being self-critical is often linked with underlying mental illness, particularly with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. If you notice that it's difficult or impossible to put away negative thoughts about yourself, or that they're constantly on your mind, it's time to seek help.
Self-harm isn't a mental illness, but it is often linked to mental distress. You may self-harm because you find it difficult to cope with your moods or how you feel. Everyone has their own reasons for selfharming.
Some people are naturally hard on themselves. They might have low self-esteem or grow up in an environment where criticism came, and praise was heard rarely. Other times there are psychological issues that lead to a person being hard on themselves or a disorder that makes them have a lack of confidence.
Negative peer pressure can also affect mental health. It can decrease self-confidence and lead to poor academic performance, distancing from family members and friends, or an increase in depression and anxiety. Left untreated, this could eventually lead teens to engage in self-harm or have suicidal thoughts.
When stress becomes overwhelming and prolonged, the risks for mental health problems and medical problems increase. Long-term stress increases the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, substance use problems, sleep problems, pain and bodily complaints such as muscle tension.
Here are three strategies I use every day to stop overthinking:
Positive reframing. This is often confused with “toxic positivity,” which asks people to think positively — no matter how difficult a situation is. ...
Write down your thoughts once, then distract yourself for 24 hours. ...
