Relationships. Finances. Work. There are lots of things that can cause us to be stressed out. Apparently, where we live can also impact our stress levels, as certain cities in the U.S. tend to have more stressed-out people than other cities. As an allied travel therapist, there are two ways to look at this. If you are trained in occupational therapy interventions for stress, you may want to live in a city where more people need your help. On the other hand, you could prefer to avoid a place that’s going to stress you out! If you are trying to decide where to go on your next allied travel adventure, be sure to consider this list of the top 10 most and least stressed out cities.
Stress Less: Best and Worst Cities for Stress
A 2016 study conducted by WalletHub analyzed cities with the highest and lowest levels of stress. WalletHub compared 150 cities across the country on things like work stress, financial stress, family stress and health and safety stress. Here’s what the study found:
Most Stressed Cities
Newark, NJ is one of the most-stressed cities in the U.S.
If you are looking for an allied travel career in occupational therapy where you can provide occupational therapy interventions for stress to people who really need it, consider searching for work in these cities!
- Newark, NJ
- Detroit, MI – Browse occupational therapy jobs in Detroit
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Jackson, MS – Find occupational therapy jobs in Jackson
- Miami, FL
- Birmingham, AL – Look for occupational therapy jobs in Birmingham
- San Bernardino, CA
- Rochester, NY – Check out occupational therapy jobs in Rochester
- Augusta, Ga
- Shreveport, LA – Explore occupational therapy jobs in Shreveport
Least Stressed Cities
Scottsdale, AZ is one of the least-stressed cities in the country.
If you want as little stress as possible on your next allied travel career assignment, it’s no surprise that Arizona had the most cities that ranked for low-stress levels. Consider searching for occupational therapy jobs in Arizona or in these other smaller cities!
- Fremont, CA
- Plano, TX
- Overland Park, KS
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Irvine, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
- Madison, WI, and Peoria, AZ (tie score)
- Boise, ID
- Chandler, AZ
If you are still unsure about where you want to go for your next allied travel career assignment, check out this list we put together of best states for occupational therapists!
Stop Stressing: It’s bad for your health
Stress is really bad for you, so it’s important to know how to manage and overcome stress. This not only applies to your patients who are receiving occupational therapy interventions for stress but also to you and your own mental well-being. Stress not only has a negative impact on our mental health but it also can harm us physically. Stress can impact our mental well-being because when you’re really stressed out you tend to have difficulty controlling your emotions. Stress can leave us feeling exhausted, depressed and anxious, which can have a negative impact on our relationships with others. This is especially true when it comes to our love lives. Some ways stress can hurt us physically include weight gain, high blood pressure, heart problems, and skin conditions. It can also cause us to have headaches, back pain, and arthritis.
Here are some additional facts about stress, according to WebMD:
- An estimated 43 percent of adults are suffering from health effects that are caused by stress.
- When it comes to doctor visits, 75 percent to 90 percent of them are for stress-related illnesses and complaints.
- Stress is a hazard in the workplace, and it costs industries in the U.S. more than $300 billion annually, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Healthcare workers are especially susceptible to stress and burnout, because of the nature of the work. This is why it’s incredibly important for you to manage your stress levels.
Occupational Therapy Interventions for Stress
There are many different ways to perform occupational therapy interventions for stress, and studies are finding that the need to do so is becoming increasingly more important in improving the health of patients. Occupational therapy interventions for stress essentially train patients to learn new skills for managing stress or eliminating the things from their life that cause them stress. Some options include relaxation therapy, meditation, and motivational interviewing.
What tips or tricks do you use in occupational therapy interventions for stress, or to manage your own stress as a healthcare worker?
