Let’s talk about stress, baby. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Let’s talk about stress. . .
Ok, seriously. Let’s talk about stress. We all feel it. Some more than others. And if it becomes chronic, we need to worry.
Stress is defined as a feeling of emotional or physical tension or the body’s reaction to change. In both pieces of the definition, it is the body that’s affected by stress.
- Feeling of emotional or physical tension – Tension can show up as headaches, body aches, fever or chills and even sadness, grief or worry
- Body’s reaction to change – The body reacts through inflammation because it’s a defense mechanism, remember the fight or flight reaction
So what are the common signs of stress? I mentioned a few above, but what are the others? Changes in mood, difficulty sleeping, low energy level and a racing heartbeat. There are other less common signs too. Things like hair loss, a diagnosis that you might not have been expecting and even excessive bathroom trips.
The causes of stress might seem fairly simple – work, family life, your finances, the relationships in your life and even the day-to-day stuff like being stuck in traffic or waiting too long in line at checkout. While these are all things we have to deal with, how we deal with them is key.
There are several treatments that you can participate in to help you with your stress.
- Therapy is a treatment that is HIGHLY recommend by those in traditional medical practices and can truly help patients suffering from symptoms of stress. Whether you choose a traditional therapist or a coach [like me], both can help you work through the stress and make choices that work for you and your lifestyle.
- Medication is another recommendation, more by those in traditional medical practices, but can help. While this can only be prescribed by a doctor, there are other options. CBD is a supplement that can be taken to help manage stress and while there are tons of companies out there selling it, you need to choose a reputable one. I recommend My Soul CBD. They’re created by people I trust and with great care to ensure the highest quality product.
- Alternative Medicine can help manage stress too. Techniques like massage, meditation, nature walks and yoga and wonderful ways to help you manage stress. A monthly massage is not only great self-care, but it can work out the tension in your muscles. Meditation, still or moving, allows you to slow down, still your mind and your thoughts and become at ease. Walking in nature is literally a breath of fresh air because it distances you from all the noise and at peace. And yoga allows you to move, stretch your muscles and quietly concentrate on yourself for once.
If one of these treatments doesn’t work for you, find one that does! You decide how you manage your stress but make it one that is healthy, good for you and doesn’t hurt others. Stress is always going to be here, but if you find a way to manage it, it doesn’t have to be as hard.