Stress awareness – Can you make it better?

Stress awareness

Today I want to talk about Stress and what it is and at what point it could become a concern in your life.

Stress is referred to as a feeling of physical, mental, or psychological tension. Any event or thought that makes you upset, angry, or anxious may cause it.

Stress is also a normal reaction in everyday life. In small doses it aids you, for example, to be on time or do tasks on time, be productive etc.

But if it is long-term, it can increase the risks for mental health problems and medical problems.

There are two main types of stress:

Acute stress. This is a temporary state caused by a stressor that will pass quickly. When you have a presentation, when you argue with someone or when you ski down a hill, you feel it. It assists you in dealing with potentially dangerous circumstances. It can also happen if you try something new or exciting. At some point in their lives, everyone experiences acute stress.
Chronic stress. This is a lasting state caused by stressor(s) that are present for a longer period of time. For example if you struggle financially, are not happy with a relationship, or you have job problems, you might be suffering from chronic stress. Chronic stress is described as any form of stress that lasts for weeks or months, and it could become so normal to you that you may don’t even recognize it as a problem anymore. But if you don’t learn how to handle it, it can lead to health issues and mental health issues.

Signs and Symptoms
Cognitive	difficulty concentrating or thinking memory problems negativity or lack of self-confidence constant worrying difficulty making decisions
Emotional	moodiness low morale irritability feeling hopeless or helpless feeling apprehensive, anxious or nervous feeling depressed feeling unhappy or guilty feeling agitated or unable to relax
Physical	headaches muscle tension or other physical pain or discomfort stomach problems nausea, diarrhea or vomiting loss of sex drive rapid heart rate high blood pressure fatigue
Behavioral	changes in eating or sleeping patterns social withdrawal nervous habits such as nail-biting, teeth grinding or foot tapping increased use of caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol or other drugs neglect of family or work responsibilities decline in performance or productivity

Once again, considering that we are living through a long-lasting pandemic, stress can also be a normal reaction to all the change around us but if you recognize the symptoms in the table above, as something you often experience, this may be a warning sign for you, and you should start to look after yourself and your mental health and think about what you can do to make it better 🙂

Next Friday I will share some advice that could help you manage stress!

Dolores

Stress awareness – Can you make it better?

Play. Learn. Evolve.