According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Living in a stressful environment causes chronic, high cortisol levels, leading to anxiety, depression, burnout, and physical ailments”.
A living environment can be stressful due to relational, environmental, and emotional factors. For example, living in a community where there is a lot of violence, living with someone which is emotionally unstable or who practices unhealthy habits, or living with someone or somewhere that does not align with your personal values can make you feel emotionally unsafe to express yourself.
It is challenging to escape stressful communities or larger cultural environments that cause unease, but hopefully to some extent each individual adult has some power to make changes over time to create a sanctuary or safe place to retreat to when the stress of life spikes your cortisol.
Some populations that may struggle the most with lack of control over a stressful living environment are teens and young adults living at home with their parents. This population may be unable to or struggling to find meaningful employment in order to be independent enough to afford a private and safe living environment. Hopefully teens and young adults have healthy and supportive parents to rely on, but if not, what then?
The Impact of a Stressful Living Environment on Mental Health
Emotional & Physical Strain: Chronic stress can lead to consistent feelings of fear, anger, sadness, numbness, or frustration.
Physical Symptoms: Headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, and muscle tension.
Cognitive Issues: Trouble concentrating, memory problems, and difficulty making decisions.
Behavioral Changes: Increased substance use (alcohol, drugs), withdrawal from social activities, and overeating or loss of appetite.
For the reasons listed, teens and young adults living in uncontrollably stressful environments need to make extra effort to protect their mental health in order to avoid experiencing anxiety and depression.
Strategies to Protect Mental Health when Living in Stressful Environments
Create a Sanctuary: Declutter and organize your room, as chaotic environments increase anxiety. Add bright or soothing lighting to combat feelings of depression.
Establish Boundaries: Limit exposure to negative people, news, or social media.
Prioritize Physical Health: Maintain a consistent sleep routine, eat nutritious meals, and engage in regular exercise to boost endorphins.
Manage Triggers: Identify what causes stress and try to change or remove those triggers.
Practice Relaxation: Utilize deep breathing, creating art, practicing meditation, or journaling to manage daily stress.
Seek Support: Connect with trusted friends, family, or professional counselors to help manage your emotions.
The steps listed above can help an individual to feel a bit more control over their life even when their surrounding environment is unhealthy in some way.
In extreme cases when an individual is living in an abusive, neglectful or otherwise dangerous environment, call Child Protective Services for a friend or National Domestic Hotlines if appropriate to ensure safety.
One of the best courses of actions if feeling emotionally overwhelmed and at capacity due to your living environment is to seek counseling.
At Mindful Essence, we strive to make therapy as accessible as possible to the members of our community by accepting Medicaid so that all individuals, including, low-income clients, can access the help they need.
If you are a teen or young adult struggling with your mental health, choose Mindful Essence to help support you along your journey towards emotional and physical health and safety.
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