OYIBO HOSANNA: STRESSED OUT?

I am stressed out! This sentence you hear from most persons in this modern age. The abundance of activities that have streamed from increased knowledge and technological advancement, has made us seen stress as a negative feeling.

WHAT IS STRESS?

Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. It affects people of all ages and walks of life, and there are aspects of your life and environment called stressors that trigger this reaction. These triggers can be your finances, work, relationships, responsibilities you carry and other situations seen as a threat to your well-being.

Your body responds to stress by releasing larger quantities of hormones: cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, which increase your heart and breathing rates, sweating, alertness and heightens your muscles to respond. Hence, you can see that your adaptability in life is largely due to the changes and stressors that you have faced and mastered.

FACTS ABOUT STRESS

• Stress affects everyone, while some people may cope with stress more effectively or recover, others may not.
• Short-term stress can be helpful, but long-term stress is linked to various health conditions.
• Stress can be a motivator for people to prepare or perform at a task, and can even be life-saving in response to some dangerous situations.
• Some stressors are particularly associated with certain age groups or life stages. Children, teens, the newly married, working parents, single parents, and the elderly.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

• Frequent headaches, jaw clenching, and grinding teeth
• Cold or sweaty hands and feet
• Difficulty breathing, constant tiredness, and Insomnia.
• Excess anxiety, nervousness, anger, Depression, frequent or wild mood swings
• Increased or decreased appetite, which leads to improper weight gain or loss.
• Difficulty concentrating, learning new information, forgetfulness and confusion.
• Social withdrawal and reduced work productivity
• Increased smoking, alcohol or drug use.

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON THE BODY

• Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (blood pressure, stroke or heart attack) due to a rise in pulse rate rise from heart muscles trying to meet body needs.
• Stress hormones decrease your immune system defense and response to foreign invaders
• Chronic stress may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Respiratory Health conditions like asthma are intensified by stress, making breathing difficult.
• Increased stress lead to decrease mental alertness and sleeping disorder.
• Sexual desire is affected as stress is exhausting for both the body and mind.
• Chronic stress may also increase the risk of infection for female and male reproductive organs.
• For women, stress can lead to an irregular menstrual cycle and hasten menopause.
• The rush of enzymes and stomach acids can cause diarrhea or constipation, and the inefficiency of the digestive system.

WELLNESS CUES

You can prepare for stress by imbibing self-management and lifestyle changes.

• Recognize the Signs of your body’s response to stress and take action to renew yourself
• Set Goals and Prioritizes. Decide what must get done and what can wait, and learn to say no to new tasks that will overstretch you.
• Get an adequate amount of sleep, eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Get Regular Exercise. Just 30 minutes per day of walking can help boost your mood and reduce stress.
• Stay Connected with people who can provide emotional and other support.
• Schedule steady time for relaxing or stress managing activities such as meditation, deep breathing, massage, and yoga.
• Avoid tobacco use, excess caffeine and alcohol intake.
• Setting aside time for hobbies, such as reading a book or listening to music
• Seek for help from a health professional, when you are overly crippled and losing your sense of life.

Whether as an entrepreneur or an employee, changing the stress mindset not only minimizes its effects, but it also enhances your productivity and appreciation of life.

About Hosanna

I am Hosanna Oyibo, a Public Health Coach. I am an avid reader, personal development enthusiast, network marketing professional and a volunteer. I’m also interested in travelling, gardening, and sports. You can read about me and visit my blog with a click on this link https://about.me/hosannaoyibo.