Care For Yourself
a platform dedicated to mental health
WHAT IS STRESS?
Stress is the psychological and physical tension felt by individuals in response to actions, past or present experiences and anticipation of future occurrences.
Every body experiences stress. It can serve as fuel or motivation which help us meet expectations and demands in our daily life. The human body and mind has been designed in such a way that it is able to adapt and allow itself to experience stress and generate different reactions to it. However, it can be difficult at times to manage stress and control our feelings and behaviors.
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Negative stress which is not properly managed often makes people feel anxious and uncomfortable as they can experience low self-esteem.
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Possible Causes
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genetic predispositions
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relationship and professional challenges
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changes in daily living environment
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obligations and responsibilities
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health and financial concerns
Signs of Stress
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difficulty to concentrate on tasks
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lack of confidence
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sleeping and eating disorders
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developing addiction to drugs, cigarettes or alcohol
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chronic pain and headaches
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feeling overwhelmed
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developing skin conditions
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being easily irritable
Dealing with Stress
Plan tasks
The possible outcomes and meeting deadlines, responsibilities and future obligations and activities may be overwhelming.
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Proper planning beforehand and considerate time management can help avoid unnecessary stress and anticipation of these situations
Talk to people
It is essential to maintain a trusted group of individuals around us.
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Talking to people can provide moral support, reassurance and even valuable insights and information which often helps us understand our social environment better.
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In case of stress, it can also help to reach out to professionals and get proper guidance.
Exercise
Physical activities stimulate metabolic reactions within the body, regulating the secretion of different hormones like endorphins which give us positive feelings and sensations as well as improving sleep.
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Team sports or exercising with other people can also provide social connections through which individuals can share their thoughts, opinions and avoid dwelling on their own negative thoughts and feelings.
make time for hobbies
Taking some personal time off for hobbies such as music, painting, crafting or even baking are great stress relievers and inhibitors.
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Hobbies stimulate new brain cells as individuals learn and master new skills without feeling obliged to do so with any defined constraints.