Stress can not only impact our day-to-day lives, but also many aspects of our body. The American Institute of Stress defines stress as a “physical, mental, or emotional strain, or tension”. Based off that definition, stress can definitely take a toll on our bodies. Long term stress can lead to stomach issues, headaches, depression, and in more severe cases, stroke, ulcers, heart disease, etc. Mental stress can cause feelings of anger and hostility, or restlessness and insomnia. Mental stress can then lead to physical stress which can make our muscles feel tight or tense, give us headaches or neck and back pain.
With that being said, stress is a part of life and happens to all of us at some point in time. Small amounts of stress can mean that we are working hard and care about what we are doing. However, too much stress can become very overwhelming. Therefore, it is very important for us to know how to deal with stress and how to take care of our bodies when going through a stressful time.
The CDC provides a few ideas to help us deal with stress:
1) Take care of ourselves—eat healthy, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and give yourself a break if feeling stressed
2) Discuss your problems with a family member, friend, or another trusted source
3) Avoid alcohol
4) Recognize when you may need more help (such as a therapist or counselor)
5) Reduce caffeine intake
Exercise is highly recommended to combat stress because it can produce endorphins (which is a hormone that creates a general feeling of well-being). Exercise can also improve your self-confidence, mood, and sleep which may all be affected by stress. Breathing and relaxation techniques can also help with stress. Deep breathing exercises can help relax our muscles and reduce our mental stress! Just know that if you are feeling stressed that you definitely aren’t alone and there are ways to cope! Let’s help each other at WellBound live in a stress free environment!
Work out more, stress less!
~The WellBound Team
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