Stress: what is it, who has it and how do we talk about it?

Stress is our bodies’ natural way of coping with being frightened or challenged, releasing chemicals into our bloodstream that provide extra short-term energy and alertness. We’ve all had times when our bodies react to stress. We can feel it. It’s the sensation known as fight or flight.
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The more stuff we have, the happier we are, right? Not so much. Research actually shows that only 10% of your happiness comes from your circumstances…the rest is up to you! While this may feel daunting, the good news is that even when things aren’t going the way you want them to, you have the power to help shape your emotions.
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What is stigma and why is it harmful?

We’ve all seen stigma in action and, chances are, we’ve experienced it ourselves. So let’s talk about it.

Stigma is anything that stereotypes, places a pre-judgment, or label on a person, situation, or idea. There are many different kinds of stigma. At Change to Chill, we focus on reducing stigma around stress, anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and other related mental health conditions as well as the steps people take to manage these conditions.
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Allina Health announces continued Change to Chill school partnership with Braham Area High School for the 2020-2021 academic year. The school was awarded $500 to expand their physical and/or virtual “Chill Zone” to help teens relax. Read on.

When the world seems heavy, it’s often difficult to remember routines and what “normal” feels like. For many, opportunities for laughter and play have changed as well…and sometimes became more scarce.
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We’ve all probably seen an uptick in our screen time over the past several months. Even during the summer, many of our interactions take place electronically. From online meetings and working from home to decreased social activities due to event cancellations and closures.

There is strong evidence to suggest that blue light screens can interfere with sleep and circadian rhythms in both adults and children. Screen time can also reduce person-to-person interaction and limit social skills during development.
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Meditation

Meditation—the practice of turning your attention to a single point of focus—is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s a skill that takes time to learn, but one that’s definitely worth the effort. Meditation can help you think more clearly, make better decisions and manage whatever comes your way.

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This summer isn’t shaping up to look like anyone expected. So much has changed in just a few short months, even weeks. It’s totally normal to feel stressed out.

While you can’t always change what happens to you, Mental Remix is a tool that can help you change your response, no matter how hard the situation seems. Think of it as rerouting your mind map to lead you down a different road. Doing so can help you feel better and be more ready to deal with challenges that come your way.
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With Social Distancing, we have not been connecting as much face-to-face. Loneliness is everywhere. If you are feeling lonely, odds are most people are! What can you do this week? Reach out and connect, get together safely, while physically distancing.
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If you think you are struggling to handle the mental stresses of 2020, a younger generation may actually have it worse. Dr. David Nathan is an Allina Health psychologist and he says that out of all the groups suffering during the pandemic, he worries most about teenagers. Dr. Nathan sat down with WCCO-TV on June 26th to share what trends he’s seeing and what parents and guardians can do to help. Watch now.