Stress is such a big topic, it’s constantly being talked about, but why should we care?
Our society pushes the busy-is-better, on-the-go lifestyle, and it takes a toll on us. Sometimes you get the feeling if you’re not stressed…you’re missing something!
As this stress fueled lifestyle becomes the norm, people start to notice the detrimental effects on their physical and mental health. Stress was created as a way to deal with and get us out of hard or harmful situations; it was not designed to be a baseline for how we live our lives.
When you feel stressed you release elevated levels of the hormone cortisol. As nature’s built-in alarm system, cortisol helps us with mood, fear and metabolism. It helps to regulate many processes including your circulatory system, your metabolism and energy.
At high or continually elevated levels, cortisol has many negative effects in the areas mentioned above, such as:
- Elevated blood pressure and heart rate
- Increased blood sugar
- Disrupted sleep cycles
- Mental changes- depression, anxiety
- Increased appetite (especially for sugary or other “quick fix”/comfort foods)
- Weight gain
- Increased muscle tension, leading to chronic pain and headaches
It is easy to see the short and long term implications of these stress induced issues, but what can we do? It’s not like all the life, job, family, relationship and financial stress is going to magically disappear.
But there’s good news! We can learn to spot the stress and manage it better!
If there are areas of your life where you can put up healthy boundaries or get out of certain situations/relationships, do it! But for all the stress that we cannot avoid, here are a few practical ways to help you manage your stress levels:
Seek out calm. Find places or activities that help alleviate tension and help to clear the mind. Seek out a quiet space, maybe you play calming music or enjoy soothing scents of essential oils such as lavender. Praying, meditating, reading and journaling are some examples of calming activities.
Just breathe. There are many different breathing techniques out there, find something that works for you. The truth is that the majority of us don’t utilize the power of our breath or its many benefits. Did you know that six deep, slow breaths are enough to reset your nervous system? Give it a try!
Get moving. The power of simply moving your body has the ability to deeply change your mood and reset your thinking, not to mention the numerous physical benefits. Walking, yoga and Pilates are fantastic low impact ways to connect to your body mentally and physically. Exercise in general is a way to get out frustration and nervous energy that is not serving you well.
Nourish your body. Getting more sleep, and making rest a priority is essential. Sleep deprivation puts you in a stressed state, making it harder to deal with the stresses that come up during the day. Drink more water – hydration is another simple way to care for your body. Also nourish your body by feeding it the proper fuel. Less junk, more real food, especially fruits and vegetables that have the necessary nutrients our bodies need to be healthy.
As a medical professional, I cannot stress the importance of managing your stress with simple, healthy solutions. Continue to seek out what works for you, because it’s going to look a little different for each unique person and their circumstances. If you need additional support or ideas in this area, don’t hesitate to reach out!
With Grace,
