Causes And Effects Of Stress On Your Health And Ways To Manage It

Your phone won't stop buzzing, an important presentation is due and working from home means adding chaos to the existing pile of stress you're dealing with. Stress is a form of physical and emotional tension that arises from one or a combination of reasons. It is the body and mind's response to a change or a challenge. Stress affects a person's social, physical and mental health. In short bursts, stress can be helpful and enable a person to respond better to situations, but prolonged stress can cause harm.

Causes of Stress

In professional life:

• No job satisfaction
• Tackling big workload in unreasonable deadlines
• Working long hours and overtime
• No say in decision-making/Opinions and suggestions not taken into account
• Facing discrimination, bullying or harassment at work

In personal life:

• Divorce
• Losing a loved one
• Financial troubles
• Dealing with a traumatic incident
• Suffering from a chronic illness or disease

Effects of Stress

• Lack of sleep
• Anxiety and depression
• Sleep problems
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Digestive problems
• Skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
• Change in eating habits
• Thinking and memory problems
• High blood pressure
• Mood swings

How to Manage Stress

#1 Practice Yoga

Practising yoga and meditation has proven to help with managing stress levels. Yoga combines physical poses with controlled breathing exercises. The different stretches and poses can lower your blood pressure, increase concentration levels and release the tension from your mind and body. It is great for your mental health and emotional well-being.

#2 Talk it Out

Sometimes, just talking and discussing your worries with another person can help with managing stress. Talk to your friends, family members, close colleagues or even a therapist. Try to share your thoughts and worries with those who can understand how you are feeling and help reduce stress with sound advice and positive reassurance.

#3 Eat Well

You are what you eat, so if you have poor eating habits, it can fluctuate hormone levels and cause unnecessary stress. To make sure you deal with stress in a better way, follow a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, providing all the essential nutrients for your body and brain to function properly.

#4 Sleep it Off

An adequate amount of sleep is significant for mental health and for keeping stress levels in control. High stress levels can disrupt your sleeping pattern, but there are ways to deal with that. Exercise before you go to sleep, listening to white noise or following an audiotape to relax muscles can help you unwind and sleep better.

#5 Get Moving

Try not to sit still if you are stressing out. Take a walk, indulge in some physical activity or spend 30-45 minutes exercising to release stress and tension. Working out and keeping your body active can uplift your mood as well as break the cycle of negative thoughts and anxiety.

Stress can have adverse effects on social, mental and physical aspects of your life, but the good thing is that it is treatable. Mental health awareness is vital to recognise signs of chronic stress and implement the right methods to manage stress and boost mental health.

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