You’re sitting in traffic, late for an important meeting, watching the minutes tick away. Send in the stress chemicals, your brain’s little control center, hypothalamus decides to take over command! These stress hormones are the same ones that trigger your body’s “fight or flight” response. Your heart races, your breath quickens, and your muscles get ready for action. This response was designed to protect your body in an emergency by preparing you to react quickly. But when the stress response keeps firing, day after day, it could put your health at serious risk.
Stress is a natural physical and psychological response to experiences throughout life. Everybody occasionally displays signs of stress. Stress can be brought on by anything, from routine obligations like job and family to major life events like a new illness, war, or the loss of a loved one. Stress can be good for your health in short-term, acute conditions and can help you deal with potentially dangerous circumstances. However, stress also causes your body to release hormones that quicken your heartbeat and breathing as well as prepare your muscles for action.
The problem arises when your stress response does not stop firing and your stress levels stay elevated far longer than is necessary for survival. Chronic stress can cause a variety of symptoms and affect your overall well being. Symptoms of chronic stress include irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches, and insomnia.
Chronic stress can also influence behaviors such as overeating, not eating enough, alcohol or drug abuse, and social withdrawal. It can also raise blood pressure, cause digestive issues, create body aches, alter sex hormones, and even weaken the immune system. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider trying some of the ideas included in the following section.
Stress Relief
Yoga & Meditation
Deep Breathing
Connect with People, Hug a Loved One
Controlling your Inner Voice
Talk Therapy, Laugh Therapy
Take a Walk, Get a Massage
Guided Imagery & Aromatherapy
Create Artwork Volunteer
Focus on the Present Moment
Stress Prevention
Exercise: Any type of movement can help improve mood and sleep.
Diet: A health diet can lessen the effects of stress, build up your immune system, level your mood, and lower your blood pressure.
Sleep: A common side effect of stress is that you may struggle to fall asleep. But lack of sleep can also add to your stress level and cause a cycle of stress and sleeplessness.
Gratitude: Whether you’re grateful for a sunny day or thankful you arrived at work safely, try to think about all the good things you have in life.
Implementing just one of these practices into your life a couple times a week can start to melt the stress away. But just remember, everyone is different. You my have to try various things to figure out what works for you.
If you need help managing your stress reach out to your Allied Wellness health coach today!
References
Smith, M. W. (2020, November 24). Ways to Manage Stress. https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress- management
Scott, E. (2020, January 8). Effective Stress Relievers for Your Life.
