Identifying Stress

Stress is an emotional and physical reaction to a circumstance. A favourable situation, such as a new baby or a career advancement, may exist. It can also be difficult, such as a traffic jam or a disagreement with your teen. Your body doesn't discern the difference; it only knows that something is happening and that it should prepare to respond.

When the body recognises stress, it releases a torrent of hormones. These hormones prepare the body to accomplish what is necessary for adaptation and survival. Acute stress can inhibit temporary conditions such as getting stopped in traffic.

Chronic stress is due to conditions that do not resolve quickly and might persist for months or years. Unemployment or caring for a disabled loved one are examples of chronic stress.

Our health may suffer when subjecting the body to excessive stress or when had gone too long without rest and restoration. Stress-related health effects include an increased risk of insomnia, digestive problems, depression, heart disease, and other disorders.

We all react differently to stress. Some people may clench their teeth, yell, and others may withdraw. It's critical to understand how you react, so you can identify when you're stressed as early as possible.

We can't avoid stress, and no one can manage it for us. We must decide to study and practice stress management techniques that will allow us to Live Well no matter what events arise.

A decent toolbox should have the following items:

Self-awareness: Being self-aware of how you currently manage stress is a beautiful technique. Consider:

What do I do well to cope?

What am I not so good at doing?

What skills do I need to improve?

You can also solicit input from those close to you.

Self Care: There are essential everyday activities that prepare us to deal with daily stress effectively. Eating regular, healthy meals, exercising, getting enough sleep, taking time to reflect and relax, and adopting good self-talk are all examples.

Other activities for self-care may include spirituality and hobbies.

Skills: We can acquire and practice essential life skills that considerably increase our ability to deal with stress. These abilities include managing money to avoid debt, managing time to fulfil your top priorities, dealing with disagreements at home and work, maintaining enjoyable, healthy relationships, and having a sense of humour.

Social Assistance:Friends that you can rely on and who motivate you to be your best self are essential in the stress management toolbox. You can count on them to be there for you when things are tough and to listen to you as you work through life's difficulties. Know when to seek assistance. Sometimes we need to seek expert assistance, such as a physician or a counsellor.