Everyone experiences stress in their lives, especially in our high-speed, social media-driven world. In fact, it was found that 89 percent of the Indian population is suffering from stress. It’s very easy to let the worries of work, home life, and even the political landscape overwhelm you. Generally, people will turn to methods like meditation, yoga or even squishy de-stress toys, but there are now alternative de-stress methods to help soothe the mind.

First off, you should know that there are two kinds of stress: one which is necessary for you to activate that higher gear and work hard to meet deadlines and improve your life, and another which weighs on you, reduces productivity and brings your mood down. This second instance of stress needs to be tempered and reduced as much as possible in your everyday life. So here are two increasingly popular de-stress methods that can help you to quash the overbearing feeling of worry.

Emotional support animals

It’s important to avoid confusing emotional support animals with service animals medically prescribed to help their handlers perform tasks – for example, dogs or miniature horses for the blind. Emotional support animals don’t need to be trained, but they provide help to those suffering from mental illnesses, emotional disorders, and even just stress.

Simply put, the right emotional support animal can help to ease the impact of mental struggles through being a source of comfort, support, and acceptance in return for your care, love, and attention. They have been found to help people with PTSD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression, offering a new focus for the owner as well as a constant source of love. 

The impact of loving animals cannot be understated. Organizations like the Animal Angels Foundation set up visits from their animals to people who would benefit from spending some time with adorable domesticated four-legged pals. 

Dogs and cats are most commonly prescribed by experts due to them being easily domesticated. If you go for a dog, as many people do, to ensure that your emotional support animal doesn’t induce any extra stress in your life, it’d be best to go with a breed that is calm, friendly, probably smaller, and on the quieter side as dogs with the opposite traits can result in broken items, irritancy, and conflict with neighbors. 

Among the top dog breeds in this sense are the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, French Bulldog, and the fox-looking Shiba Inu. Emotional support dogs, in particular, have been found to decrease feelings of loneliness, reduce stress and anxiety – particularly in those with mental illnesses – and encourage people to conquer one of the side effects of depression, neglecting physical activity. 

Online therapy

Therapy, be it with a registered psychiatric doctor or otherwise, should be the first port-of-call for anyone suffering from a lot of stress. While the stigma around seeking help from a psychiatrist is decreasing, the whole experience is still very daunting and potentially more stressful to those who need help.

However, people still recognize the benefits that therapy has to offer, and so, many have turned to online therapy to seek help from people through the safe buffer of the internet. It makes the whole process convenient and relatively stress-free, enabling anyone who needs therapy to get help that’s affordable and very accessible. 

Online therapy sessions can help with addictions, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief and family counseling, self-esteem issues, stress, and sleep disorders at your convenience. 

Most online therapy providers offer many different ways to have sessions, including video sessions, messaging sessions, live chat sessions, and sessions over the phone. Text messaging is a commonly used method as, after applying online, you can text the therapist whenever you need help or guidance.

While emotional support animals and online therapy sessions are growing in popularity, if they don’t sound right for you, there are other options such as exercising, progressive muscle relaxation exercises, art therapy, or aromatherapy.