How Asking for Help Can Lower Your Stress Levels

For many people, the act of asking for help feels like a sign of weakness. In actuality, though, it’s one of the strongest steps you can take, in whatever situation is causing your stress. Even if you have a temporary increase in stress due to the anxiety of asking for help in the first place, it will surely pay off with greater benefits, including lower stress levels overall. You may well find that asking for help is the single best stress-busting tool in your arsenal.

Asking for help is a tangible action.

Feeling like their life is out of their control is one of the most common reasons for a person to face overwhelming stress, particularly when they're unable to take steps toward defeating these feelings or their cause. Asking for help, though, is a realistic step in this process, and one that you can control. For instance, imagine the source of your stress is the college admission process. You might turn to Google with a search like “help with college applications near me“ to connect with counselors and other professionals who make a living out of helping applicants just like you. Hiring such a consultant lets you take back control of the stressor and, by extension, decrease your stress.

Expert opinions can help you learn.

Hiring an expert, such as a college admission consultant, is a great way to decrease your stress levels. So, it makes sense that you should take advantage of this whenever possible, including when it comes to defeating stress itself. For instance, you might talk to your doctor or turn to a resource like thehealthknowledgebase.com to learn more about your health and wellness and how these factors impact your stress levels. From helping you choose the right vitamins to studying up on skincare, knowledge really is power when it comes to facing your stressors.

Social connection can help beat stress.

Did you know that connecting with others—including when you ask them for help or support—is an effective tool to help you beat stress? A strong social support network can offer assistance in your times of need. Imagine a friend who’s struggling with stress; wouldn’t you set out to help them if you could? Unsurprisingly, your friends would do the same for you. Turn to friends, family, and other loved ones as a crucial investment in your stress relief and overall wellness. Avoid those social situations that add to your stress and embrace those that cultivate greater peace.

You’ll help your helper.

You may be surprised to learn that the simple act of lending a hand to you offers your support network stress relief of its own. Altruism and helping others have been connected to increases in happiness and reductions in stress levels. With this in mind, you may even find that asking for help in the first place becomes a little less intimidating. After all, by accepting their help, you’re offering your friends and family members a bit of stress relief on their part. In other words, it’s a win-win situation!

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, it’s easy to see the act of asking for help as just another source of stress, especially if you’re someone with a lot of pride. However, this same small step can offer you a drastic decrease in stress. Whether you’re asking experts for health insights or hiring a counselor to guide you through college applications, there are plenty of opportunities available if you’re willing to look for these forms of assistance. Perhaps best of all, you’ll even find that these opportunities are just as beneficial to the person helping you as they are to you directly.