Stress can take many forms. It can cause our hearts to pound just as hard as if we just ran a fast 5k. It can make even the simplest task seem overwhelming. More than anything, though, it can make life not very fun.
There are three levels of stress: acute, episodic acute and chronic, and symptoms are often indicative of our stress level.
Here’s what each of those levels mean:
Acute stress is temporary and manageable. If you’ve ever hopped back onto the curb at the sight of an oncoming vehicle, you’ve experienced acute stress.
· Episodic acute stress produces symptoms like headaches, fatigue and insomnia.
· Chronic stress is the type that wears us now physically and emotionally and occurs when situations become very difficult to deal with.
- Chronic stress is that which literally wears us out, grinding us down until our bodies and minds react with serious long-term physical and/or mental disorders. Chronic stress occurs when situations become impossible to deal with, when there’s “no way out” and we give up trying to overcome adversity.
Unfortunately, once stress becomes chronic, long ignored symptoms become invisible. Grinding teeth, tremors, confusion, forgetfulness, over-eating, and alcoholism are just some of the symptoms that appear to be habits that are as unbreakable as the situations that caused them.
Recognizing stress symptoms and doing something to de-stress or relax can make a big difference. Everyone handles stress differently, so there is no ‘cure all’ for dealing with it. That bein All stress isn’t bad. Stress can initiate change, help us focus on the task at hand, and in some cases even save our lives. Yet, when stress builds up, it can result in the opposites— and cause us to spin our wheels, keep us from concentrating, and cause bodily injury and even loss of life.
Here are some tips to help you decrease the stress in your life.
1. Take a deep breath. Taking a deep breath or two adds oxygen to your system, which almost instantly helps you relax. In addition, taking a moment to step back can help you maintain your composure, which in the long run, is what you need to work rationally through a stressful situation.
2. Take a short walk. If you’re at work, take a bathroom break or get a glass of water. Do something that changes your focus. When you come back to the problem, chances are it won’t seem nearly as insurmountable.
3. Take the time. Too often we put the pleasantries of life on the back burner, telling ourselves we don’t “have time” or can’t “make time” for them. However, actually, time is the only thing we do completely own. While we can’t “make” a day that’s longer than 24 hours, each of us starts the day with exactly that amount of time. Take a part of your time to recognize the good things in your life.
4. Dare to say no. One more little thing may be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back”. It’s okay to say “No”, “I can’t”, or “Later”.
5. When you need help, get help. Even Atlas couldn’t bear the weight of the world on his shoulders forever. Whether you need help from kids or spouse in hauling groceries into the house, help from a colleague to solve a work-related problem, or professional help to find the causes of and effectively manage your stress, getting the help you need is in itself a major stress management tip!
Other Tips
- Get a good night's rest.
- Eat healthily.
- Listen to your favorite music.
- Exercise, participate in a sport or engage in fun activity.
- Plan out your time and prioritize.
- Talk to a friend about your problems, don't hold it in.
- Get a massage.
- Take a nap.
- Take a warm bath.
- Read a book or watch TV.
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