We all complain about feeling stressed. We work too hard, have busy lives, worry about making ends meet, never take vacations, etc. Stress has become its own industry, spawning self-help books and videos, supplements, massage chairs/wands/professionals/classes, vacation packages, and the like. Many of these are legitimate, potentially helpful solutions. But there’s a reason we need help: Stress truly does take a mental and physical toll if not addressed. In fact, April is Stress Awareness Month, created in an effort to remove some of its constant presence. Read on to find some methods that may work for you.
- The instinctual has become habitual. We’ve all felt our bodies react to moments of high drama: getting a stomachache after a big fight with a loved one, sweating before a major presentation, heartbeat accelerating during the high point of a scary movie. This is the body’s natural instinctive response to a stressor — the “fight or flight” response. Our bodies tell us that we either need to confront the situation or flee, and automatically boost energy level and blood flow to prepare us for action. These were necessary instincts during confrontations with dangerous animals once upon a time. With so many modern-day stressors, our bodies have begun to react this way all the time, leading to chronic health problems.
- Physical effects. When the stress response is constantly triggered by lack of sleep, overwork, or general worries large and small, our bodies bear the effects. The same system that helps the body endure brief bursts of stress begins to suppress the immune system when stress becomes a ongoing part of life, leading to susceptibility to viral infections such as the flu. The digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems also become compromised, leading to a variety of health problems. Because the body never gets to return to a ‘normal’ unstressed state, the resulting strain can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, to name a few.
- Mental/emotional effects. Constant stress doesn’t just affect our bodies; it can lead to depression and anxiety as well. In those “fight or flight” moments, our bodies release a calming stress hormone to keep us calm. But when the body receives regular or large amounts of stress, it often leads to depression or low energy. In fact, studies in the field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) have found that chronic stress can exacerbate conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, personality changes, cognitive problems, and anxiety. The body is delicately balanced; the physical influences the mental; and the negative cycle continues unless changes occur.
- What can you do? Identify your stressors and what causes them. Write down what you’re feeling at the time of the stress and its trigger. Then do what you can to make a plan to address it. Some ideas to try:
- Eliminate unnecessary commitments.
- Ask for help so you don’t have to handle everything alone. On that note, build strong relationships which can help you can feel supported, either by someone helping you do your more difficult tasks or simply listening.
- Give your body the rest it needs; aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
- Exercise when you can to blow off steam.
- Consider doing yoga or other relaxation poses to help relax your body and build up your immune system.
Doing any or a combination of these stress relievers can help. After all, you only get one body, and the better you treat it, the healthier you’ll feel. Stress doesn’t have to be the constant in your life; start taking small steps today to lighten your load. Reach out to the experienced Sacramento staffing team at Medical Professionals today.
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