By: Katie Greasby, LMFT
The demands of life are constant and never-ending. When the list continues to grow and pressure becomes too much, it may lead to a familiar feeling of stress. Stress can affect our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Stress will happen in life, but how we handle it determines how much it affects us.
What is Stress?
Stress is a feeling of being tense, overwhelmed, worn out, or exhausted. A small amount of stress can be motivating, but too much stress makes even small tasks seem daunting. Symptoms can range from mild (e.g., headaches and stomachaches) to severe (e.g., anxiety and depression). There are two different types of stress: acute and chronic. Acute stress is short-term and more common where chronic stress develops over a longer period and is more harmful.
The first step to managing stress is being aware of the signs and symptoms of stress. Common signs and symptomsof stress include:
Feelings of constant worry or anxiety
Feelings of being overwhelmed
Difficulty concentrating
Mood swings or changes in your mood
Irritability or having a short temper
Difficulty relaxing
Depression
Low self-esteem
Eating more or less than usual
Changes in your sleeping habits
Using alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs to relax
Aches and pains, particularly muscle tension
Diarrhea and constipation
Feelings of nausea or dizziness
Loss of sex drive
Triggers of stress can be from various life events including:
Job issues or retirement
Lack of money or time
Family problems
Illness
Relationships
Miscarriages or abortion
Big life changes including marriage, having children, or moving
Driving in heavy traffic
Excessive noise or overcrowding
Uncertainty or waiting for an important outcome
Knowing our body’s response to stress is important as well. Physical symptoms may include:
Sweating
Chest or back pain
Fainting, headaches
Heart racing
Cramps or muscle spasms, etc.
Learning how to combat stress is vital to not letting it run your life. Here are helpful ways to cope with stress:
Recognize and build awareness that you are stressed and look at what is causing that stress in your life.
Look at your priorities and refocus them on what you desire your life to be like.
Use your social support system - friends, family, community, and therapist are just some examples of people that can support you. Identify current people in your life and potential sources of social support.
Relaxation Techniques - Set aside time to relax and practice deep breathing and body scans. Practicing mindfulness and controlling our body’s response can help decrease stress and anxiety. The more you practice in your day-to-day life will allow you to gravitate towards using those skills when you find yourself in a stressful situation.
Find hobbies and engage in self-care - Spend time doing things you enjoy and that bring you happiness. This creates the ability to destress and fill your life with more positivity.
Exercise regularly - Exercising can help relieve stress whether it is a 10 min. walk outside or gong to the gym, any form of physical activity helps.
Sleep Hygiene - Getting an average of 8 hours of sleep per night, consistently is best. Having a sleep routine helps calm your body before bed and allows you to shift from your hectic life to relaxation. Some examples of sleep routines can include washing your face, taking a bath, turning off electronics one hour before bed, drinking tea, reading, or listening to calming music.
Reduce intake of alcohol, drugs, and caffeine - These substances can make stress worse and heighten emotions especially during difficult times.
Take a break - Stepping away from the stressful situation to regroup yourself and your thoughts can be helpful. Whether it is getting quiet time and journaling your thoughts, taking a day off work for your mental health, going on vacation, or saying no to events for self-care can help with de-stressing.
See a therapist to help with transitions, overwhelming thoughts, boundary setting and wanting to create positive changes in your life.
Please contact me at kgreasbymft@gmail.com or call (657) 224-3462 to get started with therapy today!
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