UPDATED 04/28/2025
“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…”
Can you imagine if that was the actual song? I’m not sure it would have been a hit. Especially because stress is a somewhat controversial topic. But I think we should talk about it a lot more than we actually do. That’s why I recorded this podcast. We need to know more about stress, what it is, and what it feels like so we can determine if it becomes chronic. Because that is when we need to start worrying.
Stress has two definitions:
- A feeling of emotional or physical tension
- The body’s reaction to change
And someone once told me, always look at the second definition because usually that one is more important. In this case, it absolutely is. The body always reacts to stress. Sometimes you notice it and other times you don’t.
Think of the last time you witnessed stress in a friend. Maybe they had a sudden migraine or got sick with the flu. You probably saw tension on their face or possibly their body shaking from having a fever or chills. If you’re reading this and and you remember a friend under stress, then you probably remember the last time you were sick too.
So let’s talk about stress, in particular, the most common signs of stress. I mentioned a few above, but what are some others? Stress could show up as changes in your mood, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, having low energy level, and even a racing heartbeat. If you have panic attacks, then you know what I’m referring to.
But there are less commonly known signs like hair loss, a surprise diagnosis that you might not have been expecting, and even excessive bathroom trips. Every Sunday when I used to play soccer as an adult, I’d be in and out of the bathroom all morning long.
And what causes stress? It could be anything! Work, family life, your finances, the relationships you have, and even the day-to-day stuff like being stuck in traffic or waiting too long in line at checkout. These are all things we have to deal with, but how we deal with them is key.
Treatments for your stress range from sitting with a friend to checking yourself into rehab, and everything in between. Here are some of the most common treatments:
Therapy is my go-to treatment. I think it still has a stigma associated with it but it’s becoming more practiced by so many of us. The trick is, you just have to find the right therapist. I recently found mine and although we started in a therapist-patient relationship, we’ve migrated into a business coach with a therapy license-patient relationship. Over the recent months, she has helped learn who I am, what I want out of my life and mitigate stress. To say that our relationship has been impactful would be an understatement.
Medication is another treatment, although not my treatment of choice and here’s why. In western medicine, our doctors jump the gun and prescribe something to help with the symptoms but they almost never look into the cause. Many prefer to be medicated because it truly does help them think straight and reduce the stress. But I prefer an alternative—CBD. I have been taking a CBD gummy every day for a few years now and for me, it acts like medication. I source my gummies from Soul CBD because they are responsibly made and tested. So if medication seems like it’s too much for you, try these out.
The last treatment I want you to consider is alternative medicine. Techniques like massage, meditation, taking nature walks, practicing yoga, and going to reiki can help you manage stress. A monthly massage isn’t just great self-care, it’s also a way you can workout tension. Meditation and taking nature walks can clear your mind and give your soul a breather. And while yoga can restore your muscles and help with circulation, reiki can restore your mind and clear your thoughts.
Pick one of these treatments and find one that works for you. Regardless of how you decide to manage your stress, make sure you do it in a healthy manner that 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. Here are a few other internal resources to help you keep reading about how to manage your stress:
