Doing This Simple Task Can Be An Instant Stress Reliever
Need a quick-fix for feeling stressed? Try popping a piece of gum in your mouth.
Stress is something that affects everyone at some point in their lives. It is a natural response to challenging situations, which can be beneficial in small doses but can also be detrimental if it becomes chronic. Long-term stress can have a negative impact on both physical and emotional health. Therefore, it is essential to find ways to manage stress levels.
Apparently, chewing gum isn’t just a way to banish bad breath, it can actually help reduce stress and anxiety. And the best part? It works almost instantly.
According to Well and Good and psychiatrist Dr. Raafat W. Girgis, chewing gum helps to decrease the activation of the fight-or-flight response. So why does it work to reduce tension and anxious feelings? “Taking the focus off anything that would activate our fight-or-flight nervous system is a good thing,” he explains. “By chewing gum, your attention is more on the physical and less on the mental aspects of what you may be experiencing.”
Chewing can also be an effective way to self-soothe because it promotes stress reduction, Girgis says. Basically, it redirects your attention away from the thing that’s stressing you and that helps you relax and feel calmer right away. The psychiatrist says it doesn’t matter what kind of gum you chew, just go with whatever your favorite is. As for how long you need to chew, he says the sweet spot is around 20 minutes, but you’ll notice the effects in the first 15 minutes.
Managing stress levels is essential for maintaining both physical and emotional health. By incorporating this stress relievers into your daily routine, you can reduce stress levels and improve your overall well-being.
If chewing gum isn’t helping your stress levels, maybe it’s time to step it up to a “sleep vacation.”
