Stress Management
It almost goes without sayingthat the state of our mental health has a direct corresponding relationship to the state of our physical health and well-being. Stress, anger, feeling abandoned or judged and other such crippling emotions can sometimes get the better of us. Uncomfortable and painful symptoms in the body start to show up as a result. Symptoms of stress show up as all kinds of aches and pains. Being emotionally stressed in turn leads to physical stress symptoms. The physical challenges may develop into chronic conditions over time and manifest as cancer, heart disease, migraines and more.
It occurs when we feel like we cannot handle a certain situation, or that the situations we cannot handle are becoming too many. We can feel overwhelmed by anxieties, fears and worries. This is when learning stress management techniques could be very useful. When we constantly keep thinking, fearing and worrying, what happens is that our bodies identify this state as a "threat". It reacts to it the way it does when we are subjected to an actual physical attack. The body doesn't know the difference between real and imagined threat. The body is 'wired' to respond automatically by supplying vital energy and nutrients to the systems which are most needed to face a situation of threat and this can mean diverting essential nutrients away from other 'less vital' areas. For that reason, this reaction could not sustain running for long periods of time. It is when the body is in overload, needing energy to be diverted to meet the stress response and away from regular functioning that we become afflicted by stress.
How can we save our bodies from the effects of stress?
When we take too long thinking about something, our consciousness starts taking less note of the thinking process. Our bodies, on the other hand, do not. This explains how we sometimes find ourselves feeling irritated and exhausted, while nothing really happened in our day that seemingly could cause it.
Keep aware of what is going on in your head, without getting sucked into it.
When going through a time of stress, don't push it away, rather acknowledge what is happening and how you are feeling, but without getting bogged down or stuck. Just let it flow through easily. Acknowledging unhealthy thought processes empowers you to make more positive healthy choices for yourself.At least distract yourself if the issue is out of your control.
Another thing to be aware of are the unhealthy cravings that can suddenly hit you in the face as you crave a quick energy boosting chocolate or caffeine 'hit'. It is best to avoid giving in to these cravings if possible. Stress often results in impaired memory and concentration and lower energy levels as the energy is diverted elsewhere. You could find yourself wanting to eat, drink or smoke more in resonse to the stressful events facing you. If you get used to responding to these cravings you would create a dependency on substances that, on their own, cause strain to your body, like sugar, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes.
Being able to cope with stress has a positive impact on your mental well being and overall health. Emotional stres that continues over long periods of time can lead to chronic depression and even the inability to cope with feelings of anger. Physically, these conditions could lead to fatal results such as heart attack, and socially they would have a dramatic effect on the people surrounded by you.
If your emotions take a hold in your mind, do not let them get to your body. Take some time for yourself to become calm again and re-energize through deep breathing, meditation or listening to some relaxing music.Having time for yourself could be very beneficial at times, but it should be for the right reasons, the ones that do not have to do with any depressive tendencies. Surround yourself with people who can support you and with whom you feel comfortable and open. Allow yourself to express the emotion, even if it means running into a corner to scream out loud. Just allow the negative energy to flow out of the body without resistance, to release the stress in its own time, which is usually quite short when no resistance is in place. And let calm confident energy take its place. Find a reason to laugh and leave stress behind.
To find out more about how stress affects health and what you can do to have a healthier, happier life, check out How Does Stress Affect Health
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