What is stress and how a make it a little bit better?
Stress is a natural part of life but it can cause health problems long term. Stress is a feeling of physical or emotional tension. It is your body´s natural reaction to a upcoming challenge. In small amounts stress can be positive thing that helps you to perform better. When you sense danger no matter if it´s real or imagined your body´s automatic responses kick in, this is known as “fight or flight” Or “The stress response”.
There is two main types of stress Acute stress ( one that goes away quickly) and Chronic stress ( one that last´s long periods of time) Signs of too much stress include things like digestive problems,headaches,stiff jaw or neck, tiredness , sleeping problems and weight loss or weight gain among many other symptoms.
Common external causes of stress differ from person to person but some of them are loss of a loved one,getting divorced,money problems,moving or having a serious illness.
Common internal causes of stress could be things like pessimism,negative self-talk or unrealistic expectations.
Most of us are so used to being stressed, we often don’t know we are stressed until we are at the breaking point.
My ways to manage stress
1.Regular exercise. Going for a walk or doing a bit of yoga helps me a lot when i feel overwhelmed. Surrounding myself with nature gives me a reminder that life goes on around me even when my mind is in chaos.
2.Reading. While emerging myself in a great fictional book i´am able to forget everyday stressors for awhile and look at world tru someone else´s eyes. Books are entertaining and a great way to improve your concentration.
3. Mindfulness. Focusing on the present moment is important. As anxiety and stress are often caused by worries about the future. For me i could practice this by meditating,going for a walk without my phone in my pocket,doing breathing exercises or making some tea and focusing on my senses.
4.Talking to a loved one. Sharing what´s on my mind often helps me with putting my thoughts in to a perspective. worries get more manageable when i´m not carrying them alone.
5.writing in a journal. Sometimes i don´t feel like talking to others but my mind feels cluttered. in the days like these writing is great idea. I can write my thought´s with out censoring them and just get everything on paper. It eases my anxiety. i find myself writing most often either first thing in the morning or just before bed.
6. Deleting social media and putting my phone on do not disturb. Especially now after this pandemic started i feel that social media can partially cause me to feel more stressed thanks to people posting negative things or sharing scary news. It helps to delete the apps on my phone from time to time and take a bit of a “social media detox”. Internet is a great thing and it helps us to find information and connect with the world but sometimes it can be a bit too much if i feel stressed . Do not disturb feature on our phones is nice if you just want to focus on some self care.
Sources :
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-signs-and-causes.htm)
https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-symptoms-effects_of-stress-on-the-body)
Have a great day!
