Identifying hidden stressors and learning effective coping strategies

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and CHRISTUS Health is highlighting a focus on mental health and promoting strategies to enhance emotional well-being.

Stress impacts millions of people globally. While unavoidable, it is crucial to identify all sources of stress, including those often overlooked, and adopt healthy coping mechanisms, experts said.

While financial problems and work pressures are well-known causes of stress, cluttered spaces are often overlooked as a common source. Dr. Edward Johnson, a family medicine doctor at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic in the CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System, said that messy environments can quietly increase stress.

“Many people don’t realize that being surrounded by clutter can make it harder to focus, decrease work efficiency, increase anxiety levels and leave you feeling overwhelmed,” he said. “It can be an exhausting cycle. Cleaning up and organizing your space can make a big difference in how you feel inwardly and outwardly.”

He said doctors can help with stress by offering expert advice and creating personal treatment plans. Getting help early can improve mental health and reduce the stigma around seeking support.

“Taking action early gives people a better chance of managing stress before it gets worse,” he said. “It also helps them build healthy habits and make positive changes.”

A good place to start, he said, is by organizing your living or workspace. Reducing visual clutter can help you feel more in control and less anxious.

If you’re feeling stressed or constantly overwhelmed, Johnson recommends talking to your primary care doctor to break the cycle.