6 Ways To Help Lower Stress Levels In Friends And Family; What You Should And Shouldn't Say
What should you never say to someone who is stressed out?
This question originally appeared on Quora. Answer by Keck Medicine of USC.
Your intentions are good, but by simply uttering one word, you can unintentionally make a situation spiral out of control.
Think back to the last time your friend or partner was seriously stressed out. Say he had a presentation to give at work that day and was late hitting the road because he couldn’t find his cell phone. He was nervous, panicky and running around like a chicken without a head. In an effort to calm him down, you tell him, “Relax!” Now he’s jumping down your throat on the verge of a rage blackout.
It turns out that telling someone to relax when they are already stressed often has the opposite effect. Think about it. It took all morning for your friend to get worked up, so it’s not like he can instantly relax on cue.
6 Strategies To Help Calm Someone Down:
1. Recognize his or her feelings.
One of the reasons saying “relax” can backfire is that the person on the receiving end may feel like you’re missing the point and want him to hide his true feelings. Instead, try being understanding and saying something like, “Wow, you’re having a rough morning.”
2. Ask an open-ended question.
Give your friend a chance to talk about the situation. Ask, “What’s going on?” or “Would you like to talk?” Then listen to the response without interrupting or offering unsolicited advice.
3. Offer help.
If you are able, do something specific to help, such as pouring him a cup of coffee in a to-go cup for his drive to work. This is often better received than asking, “Do you need help?” which can come across as vague and is easy to dismiss. However, if you legitimately don’t know what’s going on or what you can do to improve the situation, ask how, not if, you can help.
4. Empathize.
When it’s a co-worker who is feeling the pressure, it can help to reassure him or her that many in the office share stressors at times because of deadlines or a change in management. Suggest working on a solution as a group.
5. Share a laugh.
Laughter is critical when it comes to stress relief. Text or email a funny meme you saw on Instagram or that video of the hamster eating tiny burritos to give your friend a quick chuckle. Keep it short though, so you’re not distracting him or her from the task at hand.
6. Suggest taking a break.
When all else fails, never underestimate the power of a walk around the block or a coffee break to help calm someone down.
