Surviving change: Expert insights on maintaining mental health during times of change
“We want to encourage people to take care of themselves on a daily basis so they can function better overall.”
Night travel for commuters. The world is changing. It’s a place that’s changing, right? And a lot of things are in flux right now. KCRA 3’s Erin Heft speaks to counselors and therapists about how to navigate change. This is their conversation. Let’s listen. How to navigate change and cope with the ever-evolving landscape of life, whether we can influence it or not. Experts want us to take care of our mental health. You know, most people can do that when they’re in a difficult situation. Basically, they benefit from strategies that help keep them calm. There are lots of options out there. I spoke with Danny Terry, owner of True Colors Counseling, over the phone. She explained to me that when many things change in your life, it can cause stress. She suggests remedies like breathing exercises, such as breathing in and exhaling twice as long. It mimics the way we breathe when we sleep. In other words, it has a natural calming effect on the body. She also says that exercising gives you a happy little hormonal kickback in your brain that works wonders. It’s by body design, so even as gentle a stretch as it happens, it helps people. Other ways to cope include going outside and seeing friends and loved ones. She also explained that panic can set in when the stressors of change become overwhelming, but this can be managed with something called grounding exercises. And in fact, when we talk about grounding skills, we are only talking about satisfying one of the five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing. And you’re actually just focusing on sensory input. Explaining mindfulness helps bring us back to the present. Our conversations about mental health are always a hot topic because it affects everyone. That’s why many mental health professionals like Terry advocate understanding what’s going on inside. That’s why we want to encourage people to take care of themselves on a daily basis so that they can function better overall. That way, when the inevitable stressors arrive, whether it’s a big change or something scary that’s just around the corner, you’ll start with a slightly better baseline. And from there, of course, they take care of themselves during that difficult time and actually lessen the huge impact it can have on them. To Erin Heft, KCRA THREE News. What an important conversation. Again, the main ways to stay calm are exercise, spending time with others, mindfulness, the outdoors, and millet.
Surviving change: Expert insights on maintaining mental health during times of change
“We want to encourage people to take care of themselves on a daily basis so they can function better overall.”
Updated: January 18, 2025 7:44 PM PST
In a world of constant change, maintaining your mental health is extremely important. KCRA 3 spoke with Dani Terry, owner of True Colors Counseling, who emphasized the importance of coping strategies to stay calm during times of stress. “We want to encourage people to take care of themselves every day so that they can function better overall,” Terry said. She explained that there are many coping mechanisms and exercises to choose from, including: Breathing techniques such as exhaling twice as long as you inhale Mimicking sleep breathing to naturally calm your body Exercise (even light stretching) can boost your mood through hormonal effects like getting outdoors/away from screens and social interaction.Terry further explained that grounding exercises that target the five senses can alleviate stress and even panic attacks. . She encourages mindfulness to stay present and emphasizes the role of self-care in effectively dealing with life changes. Learn more about California’s top stories | Download the app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
In a world of constant change, maintaining your mental health is important.
KCRA 3 spoke with Dani Terry, owner of True Colors Counseling, who emphasized the importance of coping strategies to stay calm during times of stress.
“We want to encourage people to take care of themselves on a daily basis so they can function better overall,” Terry said.
She explained that there are many coping mechanisms and options to choose from, including:
- It mimics sleep breathing, which naturally calms the body, and includes breathing techniques in which you exhale twice as long as you inhale.
- Exercise, even gentle stretching, can boost your mood through hormonal effects
- Go outside/get away from the screen
Terry further explained that grounding exercises that target the five senses can reduce stress and even panic attacks.
She encourages mindfulness to stay present and emphasizes the role of self-care in effectively dealing with life changes.
See more stories from California’s top news stories. | Download the app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
