Stress and the effect on the body and how to deal with it on a daily basis.
Inhale deep breaths in and breath out. Understanding what stress is and tips to overcome it.
How many times a day do you hear someone say `I`m stressed, perhaps you have even said it?
We do not enjoy being stressed but in small doses this can be motivating. By acting and meeting the demands of work and the pressure of home life. Long-term stress is a completely different story. This can put pressure on your body and can put you at risk of developing certain illnesses.
Stress – What is it?
All of us know what it is like to feel stressed. It never easy to pinpoint what being stressed really means. A feeling of unable to cope as a result of events putting pressure on you. A time when you have a list of things to do as long as your arm and not knowing where to start.
So, what causes stress?
We are all different and stress and what causes it can very massively from person to person. Your personality and how to deal with situations will vary your stress levels. It is difficult to list everything that causes stress as we are all different. Some of the most common are:
issues at work
money worries
bereavement
health worries
starting a new job
selling and moving home
Stress and the effects on the body.
Your heart rate may increase when your stressed, your breathing may quicken, your blood pressure may increase, and muscles tighten. When faced with difficult situations the body will automatically produce stress hormones to help us deal with them. Once these situations have passed these physical effects will pass.
Stress may affect all areas of your life, your emotions, thinking ability, physical health, and behaviours. Symptoms of stress may vary as we all handle stress differently. Being stressed constantly may impact on your health and you could develop stress-related symptoms such as
a migraine or headaches
pain or muscle tension
an overwhelmed feeling
light headiness
difficulty in sleeping and feeling tired all the time
eating too little or too much
a loss of interest in sex
If you feel stressed, book an appointment with your doctor. They will talk through your symptoms and rule out other conditions.
Helping you deal with stress
If life could be stress free (as nice as that would be), so it is necessary to look at ways to help you feel better. So, what is stressing you out? Being proactive in managing your stress may improve your emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing.
Exercise
To help reduce stress and lift your spirit regular exercise can help. It will not make stress disappear fully but will help to reduce some of the emotional intensity and clear your mind and thoughts. Any form or exercise whether in a gym of just going for a walk or run is better than none. Look at your lifestyle and see which fits in with you, whether it is stretching in the garden, going for a walk at lunchtime or setting time aside later in the day to perform yoga when you get home.
Take the situation in hand
If you have that overwhelmed feeling, then look how you can break this down into chunks that are manageable. Taking the proactive approach about the situation and looking at steps to find solutions.
Talk to someone about it
Your family and friends no matter how close you are, are not mind readers. Learn on your support network and do not be afraid to ask for help when you`re feeling stressed. Connect with those around you and speak out. It may sound simple; they may be able to help and look at situation with a fresh pair of eyes and offer solutions that you may not of thought of.
Habits that are unhealthy should be avoided
People often turn to unhealthy behaviours to attempt to relieve stress. Smoking, caffeine, and alcohol will not help you cope, so do not rely on these. It may seem a good idea as a quick fix to relax but can be damaging to your health in the long run. Call a friend when tense instead of reaching for a cigarette or try some deep breathing exercise.
Make time for yourself
Reduce your stress levels by practising some self-care. We all have lots of responsibilities in our busy day to day lives that we forget to factor time in to look after ourselves. An important aspect of stress management is to prioritise self-case when you have so many items to do on your daily to-do list. It could be waking up 10 minutes earlier to enjoy your morning coffee, or simply arrange to go for dinner with friends of just relax at home in the evening.
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