Stress is something we all live with. How you manage that stress can play a big role in your daily life. Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?
- Exhaustion: are you regularly exhausted? Can’t ever seem to get enough rest?
- Difficulty Sleeping: Trouble falling asleep?
- Aches and Pains That Won’t Go Away: That weird headache that never seems to go away with anything, may be a sign.
- Muscle Tension or Jaw Clenching: You may not even realize you are clenching your jaw!
- Weak Immune System: Are you breaking out? Are you getting sick more often?
- Stomach or Digestive Issues: Are you having random stomach pains? Making more or less trips to the bathroom than normal?
- Anxiety or Irritability: Are your loved ones noticing how your mood is changing?
- Panic Attacks: This is your body reacting to stress.
- Overeating: This could possibly be you trying to manage your stress, and not even realize you’re doing it!
- Smoke or Drink More Than Before: Yes, yes, we all know smoking & overdrinking isn’t healthy, but are you doing either more than before? You may not even realize your stress is higher than normal, and that it’s leading you to bad habits!
These are just some of the signs that your body experiences when you are stressed, along with some of the behaviors that may be used to try and cope. Again, you may not even realize what you are doing, or experiencing!
How is stress diagnosed?
Since stress is subjective, it can be tricky to measure. Only the person experiencing it can tell how much stress they are under. A healthcare provider may be able to give some guidance and tell you what you are experiencing is a sign of stress, but only the person experiencing the jaw clenching, the muscle tension, the never-ending exhaustion–are some examples, can tell!
How can I relieve some of this stress? Can I prevent it all together?
The short answer is no–you cannot avoid stress all together. We wish you could! However, no one can! It’s just part of life! What we can do is tell you how you can help relieve some of it, get past it, or recognize the signs. We already talked about the signs, let’s discuss how to relieve it!
- Exercise: This can help get your mind off of whatever is bothering you! Sweat it off!
- While we realize not everyone can go out for a run, try doing some low impact, yoga or meditation. This can help get your mind off of what’s bothering you and get you moving!
- Journaling: Think about what you have accomplished, not what needs to get done!
- Think about what you are grateful for, not what you don’t have.
- Therapy: Consider talking to a therapist to vent, or perhaps a close friend. There’s lot of free, online sources for therapy.
- Planning: Consider getting a day planner and break big tasks into smaller tasks. You’ll be surprised by how good you feel to have your “to do” list in writing, and to be able to check off the completed items will bring you more satisfaction in recognizing your accomplishments.
- Acceptance: Accept that you cannot control everything. As much as we all would like to control it all, we simply just can’t!
- No: Learn to say no! Simple as that! Don’t complicate things. You’re busy and can’t help a friend? Say no.
- Breathe: Its as simple as that! Take a deep breath. The military calls it 5 on 5. Breathe in for five seconds and breathe out for five seconds. Do it five times and I bet you will feel calmer.
Listen to your body and try to make adjustments to your lifestyle if you are feeling the symptoms of stress. You’re body will thank you for it!
For more information check out https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress
Todays informative blog was brought to you by guest blogger Blanca!