In today’s fast-paced world, stress seems like a constant companion and an unavoidable part of our lives. Stress significantly impacts our physical, mental and emotional well-being If left unaddressed, stress can lead to burnout and other psychological and physical issues. While there are many ways to manage stress, one of the most effective and accessible ways of coping with stress is talking to someone in the form of a trusted friend, family member or therapist. In this article, we’ll explore how talking to someone can help reduce stress.
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Release Pent-Up Feelings
Quite often, stress is a result of unresolved or bottled-up thoughts and feelings. Talking to someone we trust allows us to let these thoughts and feelings out. Talking about difficult feelings can offer a much-needed sense of relief. Sharing our thoughts and feelings also allows us to externalize them. Externalizing worries, fears or frustrations makes them seem more manageable. That is why, research suggests that talking is one of the most effective ways to cope with stress.
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Validation Of Feelings
Talking to someone we trust not only allows us to share our feelings, but it also offers validation of those feelings. Most often, we seek understanding and acknowledgement of our emotions while talking to others. When someone listens to us and acknowledges our feelings, it helps us to normalize them Knowing that our emotions are normal, helps us reduce self-doubt. Apart from validation, knowing that someone understands your emotions can be incredibly comforting.
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Reduced Feelings Of Loneliness
Stress can be incredibly isolating, especially when we are going through a problem on our own. Talking to someone can serve as a reminder that we are not alone, thus, reducing loneliness and isolation. Sharing our experiences and hearing someone’s perspective can also help create deep connections. In fact, research suggests that sharing our feelings with a friend going through a similar experience can help reduce stress.
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Perspective And Insight
During stress, it is easy to get trapped in a vicious cycle of negative thoughts without finding a way out. Constant negative thoughts can make stress worse. Sharing our feelings with another person can provide key perspectives and insights that we otherwise might not consider. Seeing the problem from another perspective can help us brainstorm solutions, or at least make it seem more manageable.
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Body Regulation
Stress not only impacts our minds but also our bodies. So, talking about stressors to a trusted friend or a therapist can help regulate our nervous system by activating the parasympathetic response, which counteracts the fight-or-flight response associated with stress. This process can lower the heart rate, reduce muscle tension, and promote relaxation. Thus, talking can have an overall calming effect on the body.
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Strengthened Relationships
As we discussed earlier, sharing our feelings can lead to deeper connections and strengthen our relationships. Increased closeness in relationships allows us to build a supportive network on which we can rely in the future. Knowing that we have a support system in place for difficult situations, can further contribute to reduced stress.
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Neurological Changes
Talking to someone about our stressors can lead to significant changes in the brain, Research suggests that talking helps to reduce activity in the amygdala and limbic system, which are responsible for the body’s fight or flight response. Reduced activity in the limbic system contributes to reduced stress. Additionally, talking also leads to the production of oxytocin, a hormone that reduces stress. Apart from that, talking can also help reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone( in the body. All these chemical changes lead to reduced stress, making talking an effective coping strategy.
Conclusion:
While stress is an unavoidable part of everyday life, talking about our stressors and feelings can be an effective way of coping and can offer various benefits, such as the release of emotions, validation, reduced loneliness and new perspectives or insights. In the end, it is important to remember that talking about our feelings is not a sign of weakness, but a courageous step towards seeking help. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted friend, family member or even a professional when you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
References:
- GoodTherapy | Study Confirms: Sharing Shared Feelings Red… (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-confirms-sharing-shared-feelings-reduces-stress-0204141
- Lieberman, M. D., Eisenberger, N. I., Crockett, M. J., Tom, S. M., Pfeifer, J. H., & Way, B. M. (2007). Putting feelings into words: Affect labeling disrupts amygdala activity in response to affective stimuli. Psychological Science, 18(5), 421–428. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x
- Talking through problems—Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/talking-through-problems
- Two stressed people equals less stress. (n.d.). EurekAlert! Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/538752
- Why Talking About Our Problems Makes Us Feel Better | Psychology Today. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/your-personal-renaissance/201906/why-talking-about-our-problems-makes-us-feel-better
