Stress adds an unnecessary amount of strain on the body. Continuous strain from stress may lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety, among other illnesses. In order to overcome the dangers of stress, we must find effective ways to cope. Drinking alcohol and soliciting illicit drugs are not effective ways to cope with stress. Those recreational activities are added stressors on the body, which will make matters worse. There are, in fact, healthy ways to manage stress. Listed below are 5 ways to effectively manage and reduce the effects of stress on the body.
- Take care of your emotional health. If you have experienced trauma of any kind, it is important to seek help from a professional counselor or therapist. We can’t go through life pretending like we haven’t experienced pain or trauma. Pretending that it didn’t happen, doesn’t make the stress of it go away. Internalizing the trauma only intensifies the magnitude of the trauma you’ve experienced, which affects your heart, blood pressure, and mind. It’s all right to seek help for your emotional needs.
- Take care of your body. Get plenty of exercise. Try to fit at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your day most days of the week. According to research studies, exercising releases natural endorphins in the body which trigger positive feelings and decreases your perception of pain. Meditating triggers the body’s relaxation response, which restores the body to calmness. Try meditating for a few minutes each day to reverse the physical effects of stress on the body.
- Spend time with friends. When you make time to connect with others, you will find yourself feeling better when there is some fun and laughter. Don’t neglect connecting with your family and friends. Spend time with those who are positive and encouraging. You never what good might come from it.
- Make time for yourself. A lot of times, we are so concerned with the well-being of others that we neglect ourselves. Take the time to unwind each day. Take time to love on yourself and do things that you enjoy.
- Don’t allow negativity into your space. There is negativity all over the news and social media. We are in the age of fast information. We get good news or bad news at the push of a button. Unfortunately, bad news travels faster than the good news. All of the negative energy associated with the awful things we see on TV and social media affects us emotionally, whether we realize it or not. Work towards keeping your space free of all negativity. Look for the good things in life!
For more information on managing stress, visit www.headspace.com or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as free resource at www.cdc.gov/injury/features/dealing-with-stress/index.html
Author: Robin Terry-Purnell, PharmD, MBA