Research shows that 46% of Americans cope with stress by overeating or eating unhealthy foods. 29% said they either start drinking or drink more, and 16% turn to cigarettes as their coping mechanism. As both alcohol and nicotine are popular bad habits to turn to when you’re feeling sad, people are looking for more healthy ways to cope with low moods. Wanting to know what other people’s strategies are, one netizen asked: “People who don’t drink or smoke, what do you do when you are at your lowest?” Not all answers included healthy habits, that’s for sure, but most of them are extremely relatable. Bored Panda reached out to licensed psychologist Dr. Nathan Brandon. He told us more about why people turn to bad habits in times of stress and how people can cope with it in a healthy way. We also had a conversation with the person who started this thread, u/vashisthaa. They opened up about the way they deal with stress – meditation. Read our chat with them and Dr. Brandon’s expert insights below! virgilreality Report
“Nicotine in cigarettes and vapes can create a calming effect, while alcohol is frequently used to numb emotional pain or diffuse anxiety,” Dr. Brandon told Bored Panda. “Additionally, societal norms and media portrayals can reinforce the idea that smoking or drinking is a valid way to cope, making these behaviors more likely to be adopted when someone is experiencing hardship. For some, these substances may offer a temporary escape from the reality of their problems, albeit with potentially harmful long-term consequences.” Wide-Ad346 , Amir Hosseini Report
Tired013 , Ron Lach Report
“Seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor may also be beneficial for developing personalized coping mechanisms and addressing underlying issues contributing to stress,” Dr. Brandon says. Truly, there is no shame in seeking professional help anymore. If you’re feeling dejected, reach out to a mental health specialist and let them help you! Jespi92 , Alena Darmel Report
hael_frankie , Scott Webb Report
SillyCow76 , Tetiana Bykovets Report
XAmandasAffairX , Nataliya Vaitkevich Report
dbltax , Ketut Subiyanto Report
6789yuh , Mollie Sivaram Report
Dremlar , Polina Tankilevitch Report
peanutsonic97 Report
52mschr , Ketut Subiyanto Report
Smooth_Cockroach4133 , Samsung Memory Report
mlovolm , Martin Péchy Report
yearsofpractice , RDNE Stock project Report
HODLING_APE Report
bee-sting , Sam Moghadam Khamseh Report
LibraryNovel4800 , Engin Akyurt Report
“Stress and unfavorable situations are inevitable. But the best way of living through them is to stay centered within and not let our mind[s] lose control. Do not forget that situations come and go, problems are part of life, [and] nothing is more important than our smile and peace of mind,” the Redditor explains. “Do what is necessary to be done but with a stable mind. Being feverish and stressful are rather the worst ways to deal with any situation.” DaikonNoKami , Karolina Kaboompics Report
thisFishSmellsAboutD , Pascal Küffer Report
Hot-Butterscotch127 , cottonbro studio Report
“The magic of breath is still unknown to many people,” u/vashisthaa adds. “It should be taught to everyone so that they become efficient [in handling] their own emotions at least.” worriedelephants , Alex Green Report
Badaxe13 Report
ProgrammerOdd3111 Report
anon Report
anon Report
Weekly_Click_7112 Report
MrMyagi007 , cottonbro studio Report
Biotaste Report
KenJyi30 Report
ThrowRA_Cat_stare , Eren Li Report
IllegalIranianYogurt Report
shakablue , Anna Shvets Report
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