With the hassle from school, academics, social lives and other personal problems, being stressed seems inevitable. We have all experienced times when stress overcomes us, but there are ways to relieve this kind of pressure.

Stress is connected to the psychological disorder depression, which happens when one is constantly worrying about multiple things and has anxiety over something like failing a class. This mental illness is very harmful; it can transform a  normally happy person into someone unrecognizable with their stormy and dispirited manner.

Depression and stress don’t only affect your mood but can also lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. ULifeline states that these conditions could cause self-harm which happens when people try to cope with their problems by hurting themselves. This may result in poor school performance because depression distracts someone from concentrating, and it could even make you vulnerable to illnesses such as the flu.

In addition, stress may lead to anxiety, which makes people paranoid, causing one to be overly cautious and always worried. Psych Central says that a small disorder such as anxiety could induce something catastrophic like a heart disease.

Here are five recommendations in order to alleviate stress. It may be helpful, but if not, try to create a similar way, a way that fits you.

1. Listen to your favorite music. Researchers at Stanford University have said, “listening to music seems to be able to change brain functioning to the same extent as medication.”
2. Breathe deeply. Psychologist Judith Tutin, PhD, says, “Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.”
3. Exercise. Health Line says that “Getting your blood moving releases endorphins and can improve your mood almost instantaneously.”
4. As they say, laughter is the best medicine. Laughter also releases endorphins that improves your mood and can decrease stress causing hormones. It creates an illusion that will automatically put you in a better frame of mind.
5. Call a friend. Discuss your problems with a friend or family member. Talking to people who love and support you will always comfort you in stressed times.

If you try one of these, most likely, all your worries and hardships will diminish. Wouldn’t you rather have a healthy, happy lifestyle compared to the opposite? If you don’t want your body to be overtaken by stress, try one of these suggestions.