by Maya Misic
What causes stress?
Stress is a normal human reaction that happens to everyone. In fact, the human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress responses help your body adjust to new situations. It can be positive, keeping us alert, motivated and ready to avoid danger. However, it becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief or periods of relaxation. This is when our body starts to show physiological and psychological symptoms that we have difficulty managing.
Symptoms of stress
We all experience stress differently. However, there are some common signs and symptoms of stress as listed below. Physical signs
Dry mouth
Increased heart rate
Muscle aches, stiffness or pain (especially in the neck, shoulders and lower back)
High blood pressure
Frequently feeling ill
Worsening of an existing illness (e.g., asthma, skin rashes)
Chest pain
Headache
Indigestion
Constipation
Stomach cramps
Sweating
Nausea
Trembling
Fatigue
Weight gain or loss
Behavioural signs
Increased smoking, drinking, drug use
Yelling
Swearing
Aggression
Avoidance/procrastination
Isolation
Changes in eating habits
Changes in sleeping habits
Nervousness (nail biting, fidgeting, pacing, etc.)
Mental signs
Difficulty concentrating
Decreased memory
Difficulty making decisions
Mind going blank or racing
Confusion
Loss of sense of humour
Decreased libido
Inattention
Bad dreams
Emotional signs
Anxiety
Anger
Irritability
Impatience
Short temper
Frustration
Worry
Fear
What to do and how to cope with stress?
There are many ways how we can regulate our stress. There are some common ways that help manages stress. We will present some of them.
1. Get active
There are many ways how we can be active. You can decide to walk a dog more frequently or longer, or decide to use stairs instead of elevator, do stretching...You chose, sky is the limit.
2. Eat a healthy diet
Eating healthy actually means eating healthy foods more frequently than unhealthy ones. Aim to eat veggies, fruits and whole grain.
3. Avoid unhealthy habits
It is a known fact that we are prone to use substances, eat unhealthy, distract ourselves when we are under stress. Also, spending much time in front of TV or a phone, can increase the stress symptoms.
4. Meditate
Meditation can promote the sense if calm, peace and balance that can increase the sense of emotional well-being as well as overall health.
5. Laugh more
A good sense of humour can't cure all ailments, but it can help you feel better, even if you have to force a fake laugh through your grumpiness.
6. Connect with others
Social contact is a good stress reliever because it can offer distraction, provide support and help you tolerate life's up and downs. So, take a coffee break with a friend, email a relative, or visit your place of worship.
7. Assert yourself
You might want to do it all, but you can't, at least not without paying a price. Learning to say "No" or being willing to delegate and ask for help, can help you manage your to-do list and your stress.
8. Get enough sleep
Stress can cause you to have trouble falling a sleep. When you have too much to do and too much to think about, your sleep might suffer. But, sleep is the time when your brain and body recharge.
9. Seek counselling
Therapy may also be a good idea if you feel overwhelmed or trapped, if you worry excessively, or if you have trouble carrying out daily routines or meeting responsibilities at work, home or school.
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