We all have coping strategies and various methods for dealing with difficult situations and stressors that wield their ugly heads without notice. The difficulty really comes with how long it takes for us to recover from those stressors. When we have negative coping strategies we delay our recovery or avoid it all together.
Negative coping strategies include high-risk behavior such as driving fast, acting out with violence, and putting yourself in dangerous situations. Other negative coping strategies are avoidance, substance abuse, and suppressing feelings.
The way to avoid these unhealthy and dangerous behaviors is to be proactive in your overall health. This is where self care becomes beneficial. When you address each area of your life proactively and prepare for difficult days you reduce the negative affects on your mind, body and emotions.
When you incorporate self care into your routine and lifestyle you will find your sympathetic nervous system becomes more balanced which relaxes your flight-or-fight (parasympathetic system) so you can meet stress in a more relaxed manner.
Exercise releases endorphins which improve your mood and eating healthy foods help you gain energy level and help improve sleep. Self care helps you process difficult emotions in a healthy manner which allows you to be more self aware. It also helps you feel good about yourself and helps you to be more connected to the people who are most important to you.
The idea of addressing so many areas of your life may feel overwhelming, but with a little support you can begin to address changes one at a time and in a short time start noticing the benefits of adding in a little care for your self.