Stress has become an inevitable part of everyday life. Everyone deals with stress in different ways. Your past experiences, current lifestyle practices, and situations can affect how you perceive and cope with stressful situations. It is crucial to understand how stress affects your health and ways to reduce it.
Let’s look at some ways that stress can affect overall health. It can cause:
- Increased blood pressure
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Sleep problems/restlessness
- Irritability, anger or sadness
- Feelings of anxiety/helplessness
- Lack of motivation/social withdrawal
- Increased use of alcohol and tobacco products
Taking steps to manage your stress can prevent these symptoms and improve your overall health. With the requirements of jobs, children, and relationships, it can be not easy to find time for yourself.
However, taking just 30 minutes per day to do something for yourself can make a big difference. Read a new book, exercise, or try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or envisioning yourself in your happy place. Try to avoid turning on the TV or being on your phone, as these methods can lead to greater feelings of stress.
Above all, get plenty of sleep: this is one of the most important ways to combat stress.
If you are feeling stressed, talk to someone about it. This can help release some tension about the stressful situation and help you better identify and work through your feelings. If you experience depression or hopelessness for a sustained time, remember you are not alone. Contact your primary care provider to create a plan to manage these feelings.
