Hi I’m in my early 20’s ( 22 years old) and I’m stressing over everything in my life.

I think I’m too responsible about everything and I regret being like this, I don’t want to spend my 20’s like this it’s really hard.

Everyday I regret that I spent a day of my life in stress, I’m just a young person, i don’t regret the way that I spent my life in my 20’s and look backwards in my 40’s saying “ damn “

I stress over everything ( work, family, physical health, mental health, relationships, money, future and the list goes on).

Now I landed my first job ( which I prayed for before) and now I’m regretting it cause I’m feeling that’s my days count without doing anything, (wake up, work , sleep and repeat)

I’m thinking about all my decisions and it’s really tough my head is full of thoughts, Please if anyone has an advice help me.

Side note: English isn’t my first language so idk if I could describe my problem in the right way ( and this i’m stressing over it also) and please don’t say (XANAX)

For depression and other purposes my psychatrist prescribed abilify .

And I am undergoing treatment for almost 4 years with different prescriptions . Need some other ways to free from my stress

Let’s talk about something that sounds basic but is super important: how you breathe.

Did you know your breathing can affect how you feel emotionally and physically? A lot of us don’t realize it, but breathing isn’t just something your body does automatically—it’s actually a learned behavior that can change over time depending on stress and anxiety.

Over time, your stress and anxiety can change how you breathe, which can then feed your stress and anxiety. Here’s hows:   

Bad breathing habits can mess with your body’s pH balance. Think of pH as how your body stays balanced between being too acidic or too alkaline. When you breathe too fast or deeply, you get rid of too much carbon dioxide (CO2), making your body more alkaline than it should be. This can lead to:

Feeling anxious or panicky for no apparent reason.
Tingling in your fingers or face or even feeling spaced out.
Getting dizzy or lightheaded even though you’re just sitting down.
Having trouble concentrating when you need to study or pay attention.

Stress and anxiety aren't just “in your head.” Your body’s chemistry changes when you breathe poorly. 

Luckily, you can retrain your breathing to help you feel calmer and more focused.

Learning to breathe with your diaphragm (the muscle right under your lungs) instead of just your chest can make a huge difference.

Breathing can be retrained, just like any other habit! It takes practice, but it’s doable. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t control your anxiety or stress, it could be linked to your breathing and pH balance, and fixing that might be the first step to feeling better.

If you want to learn more about how breathing affects your anxiety and how you can improve it, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to share more tips and ideas to help!

Can you give me your suggestion. how do i relieve my stress?

As we head into a busy season, I’m looking for effective ways to stay calm and centered. I’ve been trying out mindfulness and deep breathing exercises, and they’ve been helpful; which ones do you recommend?

Hi yall, I need your advice regarding stress. 2 months ago, I started a corporate job right out of university and I am constantly stressed in work and home from work related stuff. I keep waking up completely sweaty that I forgot something, eventho it is on my agenda for the next day, always thinking about work and just cant get my mind to relax and understand that I am doing good. Moreover, I am in a situation where I do not need to be stressed, i dont mind if i get fired, there is plenty of work that I can do instead and financially wise, I am set that I wouldnt need to work for a while and still be ok. Of course I want to perform well. Managers are telling me to relax that I am doing good but still. There is literally no reason for me to be stressed, but I still am to the point I am waking up from sleep, always thinking about work and just cant get rid of it whatever I am doing. I go to the gym 4 a week, i plan so that I do everything on time, i do breathing exercises and so on. At this point, i am considering taking a minimal wage job that will not stress me out as I am done with stress.

Any advice is welcome 🙏

I have been suffering from something. Its like in my head, kind of like a fear if i didnot do it i will fail, get stress or something. I dont wether its anxiety or not but i do know its kind of the fear of getting an anxiety and rationalizing this fwar which causes some more anxiety. The brain gets in a loop or cycle. I even develope superstisions naturally to cope with it but some external changung in environment occured and now i am even way past them. I want inner peace. It is like breaking the fourth was with every thoughs. I am thinkibg something and a value appears which tells me what can change if i think like that and at the end i shift so much that i get worst and worst. Cant focus on studies cant on life, life has become a hell. My own values stop me i am stuck. I am 17 btw and male.

This time, I finally cracked the code on that relentless pre-bedtime scrolling habit that had been bugging me for ages. Now, I’m getting more sleep and waking up with a positive vibe each day.
(Looking back, I realized that social media was causing my sleep deprivation, and during those times, I often felt irritable and negative. I would also spend time on social media during the day, going through ups and downs in my mood.)

After sharing this with friends and seeing their strong reactions, I thought it might be helpful to post about it for others who might relate.

Background

Back then, I was grappling with these issues:

• Every time I aimed for just a 10-minute social media check before bed, I'd end up losing an hour or two.
• This inevitably led to sleep deprivation the following day.
• And with less sleep came heightened stress.
• In a bid to manage that stress, I'd dive back into social media.
• Only to feel regret afterward.

Despite countless failed attempts to tackle these challenges, I realized I still had so many dreams to pursue. So, I dedicated myself to truly optimizing my time and boosting my productivity, which ultimately led to meaningful habit changes.

.

What I Did

I broke down my efforts into three phases:

Phase 1: The Basics

• Used the iPhone’s built-in Screen Time feature.
• Set app time limits like a grown-up.
• Switched on “Do Not Disturb” mode from 12:00 AM to 7:00 AM (so long, midnight distractions).

The Result?

• Peaceful nights with zero notifications.
• But Screen Time? Yeah, not so effective. (I kept hitting “Extend for 15 minutes” or “Ignore for today” like it was nothing.)
• Realized I needed to up the friction and create distance between me and my phone’s temptations.

To tackle bad habits, sometimes you need to create friction (make it harder to indulge) or remove the temptation altogether (like keeping junk food out of the house when you’re on a diet).

Phase 2: Upping the Game

• Moved apps deep into folders (hello, extra friction).
• Deleted apps I couldn’t resist (farewell, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube… for now).

The Result?

• I became an expert at digging deep into folders for apps.
• On the bright side, I successfully ditched TikTok!
• But YouTube and Instagram? Yeah, had to reinstall them for work. Ugh.

Phase 3: The Final Boss

• Started journaling every morning (new ritual, who dis?).
• Watched YouTube in incognito mode to avoid the rabbit hole of recommendations (goodbye, temptation).
• Introduced app blockers—time to get serious.
  • Set up app restrictions that made using them a hassle after hitting the limit (friction is everything).
  • Auto-blocked specific apps upon waking, during work, and before bed (no more distractions).
  • Even set a 5-minute limit for when I really wanted to peek, only for it to auto-block (more friction).
• Displayed daily screen time on my home screen to keep the pressure on.
• Took my Kindle instead of my phone when heading to the bathroom or out for a walk.
• Left my phone out of the bedroom and started reading before bed (temptation, who?).　

The Result?

• I’ve finally kicked my bedtime scrolling habit!
  • The winning combo of multiple restrictions, swapping in some reading, and leaving my phone out of the bedroom really worked!
  • My daily phone time plummeted from 8 hours to just 3.
  • As for Instagram? I’ve gone from opening it 30 times a day to just once!
  • And YouTube? Now I can easily stop after 10-20 minutes during breaks—no more late-night binges.
• With all this, my sleep has improved, stress has dipped, and I’m feeling way more positive!
  • I’ve upgraded my sleep from 5 hours a night to 7.
  • I’ve realized just how crucial sleep is, and cutting out negative social media content has been a game changer.
  • Additionally, I often found myself affected by negative comments about others on social media, and seeing posts from fulfilled or successful people would stir up feelings of negativity within me. Since removing these triggers, I truly feel like I’ve become stress-free.
• Once I stepped away from social media, I discovered I can actually live without it!
  • Ironically, the more I scroll during the day, the more I crave it at night.
  • What I see today just makes me want to see more tomorrow!
  • We all know this, but dopamine and temptation are fierce adversaries!

.

Reflections

1. The biggest game-changer? Rock-solid determination to “seriously level up.” Without that mindset, it’s like trying to diet in a candy store—you’re bound to fail.
2. The secret? Increase friction and dodge temptation. The goal is to make using your phone so inconvenient that it’s not even worth it. Trust me, the phone’s pull is way stronger than you think.
   1. I even doubled down with app blockers—basically putting my phone in digital quarantine.
3. But here’s the thing: avoiding your phone alone won’t cut it. You need new outlets. For me, it was journaling and reading, but find what works for you.

About App Blocker

Luckily, there are plenty of app blockers available in the app store. Search for “app blocker” or “screen time control,” and you’ll find options. Personally, I’m a fan of one sec and Dream Sheep on my iPhone—both are simple and effective.

About Future Phase 4

But I’m not getting too comfortable yet. Lose focus for even a second, and your phone will pull you back in like quicksand. So here’s what I’m planning next:

• Turn off notifications entirely (yep, all of them).
• Set my phone to grayscale (a hardcore option, but I hear it works).
• Find a new hobby besides reading (maybe knitting? 🤔).
• Add even more app blockers (triple or quadruple, let’s go! 😆).
• Consider switching to a dumb phone.
• Lock my phone in a box—and maybe toss the key.

I had no idea that just by altering my social media habits, I could boost my sleep and completely transform my life.
I'm really excited to share this experience with others.
If anyone has even better strategies or their own experiences to share, I'd love to hear them!

People who have experienced burnout, what do you think you needed the most during your most intense phase? a) Peace b) Balance c) Rest d) Relaxation e) Something else, what?

Chronic stress causes the body to release cortisol, often referred to as the "stress hormone." Elevated cortisol levels signal the body to store fat, particularly in the abdominal region, as a survival mechanism. This stress-induced fat storage is problematic because it not only increases the risk of obesity but also impacts metabolic health.

Stress can also disrupt healthy eating patterns, leading to emotional eating and cravings for high-calorie, sugary foods. These foods cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, further fueling insulin resistance and weight gain. Over time, the combination of poor diet and elevated cortisol results in a difficult-to-break cycle of weight accumulation, particularly in the belly.

Reducing stress through lifestyle changes is crucial for effective weight loss. Practices such as yoga, meditation, and proper sleep can lower cortisol levels. By addressing stress and its hormonal impact on the body, individuals are more likely to lose stubborn belly fat and achieve a healthier, balanced weight.

Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that increases blood sugar levels and can lead to insulin resistance over time. This not only makes it harder to lose weight but also contributes to fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area. Managing stress through techniques like meditation, yoga, and proper sleep can help balance insulin levels and promote weight loss.

What things did you try to solve burnout that you thought would work but didn’t help much or not completely? Why didn’t they work for you? What did work for you?

Stress eating occurs when we reach for food not because we’re hungry, but because we’re stressed, tired, or looking for comfort. The body releases cortisol, a stress hormone, which can increase cravings for sugary and fatty foods. These foods provide a temporary dopamine boost but can lead to weight gain in the long run, especially around the belly due to insulin resistance triggered by high cortisol levels.
To manage stress eating, it helps to identify the triggers (boredom, stress, emotions), practice mindful eating, and find alternative stress relief techniques like breathing exercises, yoga, or journaling.

i know this says stress free season, so i could really use just encouragement and i need to know i’m gonna be okay

Recently, I've found an amazing outlet for my stress, scenic rides. I was gifted a freedare electric bicycle early this year, and it's been a solace to the overwhelming academic stress I have been experiencing.  Because I don't have to exert myself too much by pedalling, I can just enjoy the ride, the wind, my music, and the scenery. It's incredibly therapeutic.

As the title says, how to manage stress as an overly sensitive person. I am definitely a people pleaser. When anything goes wrong or even the smallest thing, I panic or get anxious to the point it makes me cry. I always think a person doesn’t like me or probably talks bad behind my back to other people. That may not be the case but I keep thinking it to the point it makes me cry. Should I talk to a professional about my situation? I know it’s overthinking but like I said, I’m too sensitive and get stressed too easily. I have been told I need to chill and I think because I get stressed too easily, people I work with doesn’t like to be around me. I need advice or maybe some help.

Hello,

I can`t find any other job than Customer Service (don`t ask me why, just believe me ). I need to be able to work for this job on upwork for 2 years. Then, I`ll have enough money to maybe start a life coaching business. But until then, I need to perform. How do you guys handle rude people, and how can I become a more detached person and not take it personally when someone insults me?

What are some of the best techniques for you to handle stress?
Thank you very much

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewsieG-LwKPKcPDCl88wTyP_7UHMUugVjmYVW_4By7alC_9w/viewform

Hello everyone! I’m a college student interested in tech and software user experiences. I have also been trying to better manage my mental health and started my journey through the Headspace app. The app’s meditations have taught me skills to help manage my severe anxiety and OCD.

Headspace has helped me so much over the years, and as a giant nerd, I want to learn more about what makes the product so successful. As a side project, I also want to try designing concepts for new features and developing my own ideas.

I am trying to collect data on people’s current or past experiences with the Headspace app so I can better learn. If any of you use Headspace or have in the past, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to fill out this quick survey! It should take under 5 minutes.

Hello, I hope this is ok to post here. I am part of a group of researchers from the University of Westminster. We are looking to hear from UK based healthcare professionals on their opinions about yoga as a wellbeing intervention for the health and wellbeing of HCPs (no yoga knowledge or experience needed! All views welcome - positive and negative!) The survey is completely anonymous and it is hoped the results will inform ways in which to support healthcare worker wellbeing. You can participate using the following link:

https://westminsterpsych.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_834pRgH49PM8c6i

All participation is very much appreciated.

I want share this everywhere I can, I discovered a new form of calming technique for myself that is also a form of hearing training. A little backstory, I was veery high on cannabis once and had an experience where I somehow muffled out all voice and everything other than the birds chirping.

It seemed like there was a nest jammed in my ear. Through chatgpt, I asked how this was possible and it mentioned how their was a sensory boost to the brain and it is very possible to achieve this without drugs. It mentioned mindfulness and breathing training and other things and it gave me an idea. I was fascinated by the thought of having super hearing and how amazing the brain is.

I began to look up those hour to 10 hour long real time nature vids and tried i would pick a sound or an animal to focus on and play around with it making it challenging in different ways. I could tell I would be able to do this an hour straight if I wanted it was like my brain had this sound fidget spinner.

More personal backstory, I am a highly sensitive person or “hsp” who discovered he has had childhood truama this whole time. Currently dealing with a relationship that has always been iffy in the trust department and a recent lost in the family…my focus is off and I cant study in school and I am also in limbo because I am not feeling I am progressing in life. Needless to say, I am in therapy(which just brought so much more to my hyperactive mind) and I have been in my head alot. Also, the body soreness from the gym ramps up my anxiety as well to where I cant tell if its emotional or bodily.

This is the first thing that has brought me peace in a long while. Meditation and focusing on breathing just hasnt been enough.

Hello everyone! For those who don't know me, I am a clinical hypnotherapist, Director of a remote practice and live my life with ADHD and GAD. Through my own personal experiences and those working with others with similar issues for the past several years, I'd like to share some things with you all today. I need to emphasize that, as a hypnotherapist, I am not working directly with issues like anxiety, ADHD or any other diagnosed condition. My work is more behavioral, teaching about the mind's functions we were never shown and helping to create growth, change and wellness.

Ok, so having anxiety sucks. I don't love it. When asked what it was like, I once told a friend that it felt like I was being casually hunted for sport. In fact, I didn't even realize I was feeling anxiety until I finally received a diagnosis and medication; the silence was almost deafening. I realized this wasn't a fix, but an opportunity to address and help myself without that lingering, low-grade fear. Before anything else, let me please encourage everyone to seek medical assistance if you think it will help you.

Anxiety is such a strange thing. It's a good thing, in reality. It is a subconscious response that exists to keep you alive, safe from lions and tigers and bears. It's there for survival. Now, that said... a project due or an upcoming social event is not a life-or-death event worthy of existential fear. Yet, it feels like it, doesn't it? Your subconscious: more specifically your primitive mind, your reactionary lizard brain that lies below even your subconscious, cannot tell the difference between these events. This is often why, at least speaking for myself, I would feel so guilty about my anxiety: I wouldn't give myself permission to feel what I was feeling because it seemed like I was 'overreacting'. That phone call isn't a wolf in the darkness, after all.

Simply giving yourself permission to feel what you feel is a big step. Emotions and reactions don't require validation, they exist. Sometimes they do merit examination, but to examine we must allow it to be present. On that same note, a feeling goes beyond an emotion. When we stop to consider our anxiety, it always comes with a physical feeling, doesn't it? Mine felt like a ball of ice in the bottom of my stomach. What does your feel like?

This is an important question because it leads me to something I'd like everyone to try the next time you struggle with feelings of anxiety. Examine how you feel physically and give it a description. A quality and a form. Where is it in your body? Imagine these feelings as a thing inside or around you. Now for the fun part... how would you resolve that thing? For example, my ice ball. The solution would be to melt it away, so this is what I visualize. Breathing slowly, calmly and deeply, I focus on that image of the ball of ice and see it melt away... and I feel better.

Why does this work? Because imagery is the language of your subconscious; by solidifying this feeling of anxiety into an image and manipulating it, you are speaking to your subconscious and letting it know that the feeling is received and understood but not needed. While this will not prevent feelings of anxiety from arising, it is a useful tool for addressing it when they arise. In fact, this is a tool I use in my own life.

So, let me know because I'm always curious... what do your anxious thoughts feel like?

Hello,

33 male here and since the corona days I have been dealing with higher levels of stress and constant fear of being sick or having a heart attack cause of some anxiety attacks and such. I went to therapists had a nice chat and everything and it helped me calm down and get to a normal level. I solved anxiety attacks but stress persist. Why it persist? Cause from time to time in my chest I feel like my heart jumps or stops for a moment and I lose breath cause of it. With this my fear intensifies and thus stress. My therapists and other doctors told me that this is normal and due to stress and that I have a healthy heart. I tried everything to reduce stress. Yoga, regural exercising, all kinds of breathing, meditation, going outside for walks with my dog and many more things. This helped for a while, especially last year. But this year it just can't get better. I don't know what to do anymore and if anyone has any other suggestions than the standard things, I'll be happy if you can share. Thank you

hello! i, 19F, have been having cortisol issues for quite some time now, which means i can't sleep at all or just for a few hours each night. it's all very exhausting as that means i lead a full on life with so little sleep. it's mostly bcs of money issues and overall stress. i also have gut issues, so i can't really take most pills, just supplements mostly. i'm taking some, but they haven't changed anything about this. i also have pcos, just in case knowing that helps. please help! it's like a feeling of agitation that just won't let me rest. all of this tiredness will catch up to me and i already have enough health issues. please recommend me any solutions that might help, except for any that could have side effects, especially considering my other issues, also no drugs, alcohol or anything addictive. thank you so so much and i hope you all have great lives!

So I got a new work from home job last August.. coming up on a year. The job pays GREAT. I am 24 years old and I am getting more money than I ever had in my life. But the job stress is killing me. We have to meet monthly goals in order to get any bonus. I usually do hit goal every month but on the months where I fall short or I feel the pressure of the month ending and me still not being at my goal is when my stress is through the roof. Everyday I never know what to expect, I work in collections so its easy to lose payments to somebody else and it gets me infuriated so much to the point where I just want to give up. I go to sleep every night (even on the weekends) thinking about what I need to do to get closer to goal and who i need to call the next day. On some days the fear of wondering what is next or worrying about things not going my way is crippling.. it makes me dread going back to work on Monday, it makes me nauseous, it makes me cry sometimes. Because i am in collections and it is production based, i rarely get days off except for on the weekends and anytime you use any of your PTO, you have to worry about it affecting you hit goal because you have less days to collect and meet your goal. I do know that i am a SEVERE overthinker but i just cannot put a bottle on my emotions sometimes but I feel the need to stay at this job because I am touching more money than I ever have before, i am able to help my family out but this stress is just overwhelming. I have gained weight, my face is breaking out…I dont really have anything to look forward to when i get off except for my dog. I admit that i dont really have a life outside of work but I just moved to a new state so its hard to meet people. I just feel so lost. Any advice would be appreciated. I am overwhelmed

Hi there, I am a researcher at University College London and I've put together this leaflet offering evidence-based advice for using videogames to unwind from work stress. Hope you find it useful!

https://preview.redd.it/d56inwbbzabd1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5cc66ef82fbeb7802ebda064c122ed560c21bd7

I'm a Performance and stress management coach. Ask me any questions you have and I'll do what I can to answer—looking forward to the questions. Thank you!

I have a mentally-ill abusive relative who causes a great deal of fear and fear-induced stress to me and other adults and children in my family. While they don't live in our home, they are in the same city and I still have to deal with and communicate with this person, and when thoughts of them come into my mind my BP shoots up for a day, I get headaches, and my pancreas has been under attack and decreasing function for the past two years - yes, caused by this stress.

I need in-the-moment ways to distract my mind so I don't think of this person, I need to put them permanently out of mind because it is putting my health at risk. Does anyone have any techniques for banishing thoughts when they try to enter?