What is stress and what do we do about it?

Throughout our lives, we all experience stress.

Whether it’s a project at work or getting all the Christmas presents bought in time for the party. Stress is common. Especially as our society gets busier and more fast-paced. But there’s also this thing called anxiety that you hear about and maybe even suspect that you might be facing. The truth is that stress and anxiety are similar, and their symptoms often overlap.

When we feel stressed, we can experience:

·        Racing thoughts

·        Rapid heartbeat

·        Upset stomach

·        Difficulty concentrating

·        Difficulty slowing down or being still

·        Headaches

·        Sleep changes

·        Irritability/anger

·        Forgetfulness

·        Muscle pain

Stress can also have different levels of severity.

At first, your stress could be just keeping up with work and all the deadlines. As that gets more intense, let’s say that you miss a deadline or you get a new project added on, your stress gets worse. It becomes more difficult to sleep. You stay awake thinking about what you need to get done the next day. You send the email that you forgot to send during the day at 3am.

Eventually you get some sleep for a few hours but as soon as you wake up, you’re checking your phone. You ask for an extra shot of espresso this morning to help you wake up.

As the day progresses you find yourself getting more irritable though. You are answering everyone short and snappy. This isn’t like you, but everything will be fine once you get the project completed.

If this is true then that’s great and it has been more of a short-term, or acute stress. What if another project comes up or someone in your department gets fired and now you must do part of their work?

Ongoing, cumulative stress can turn into what’s called chronic stress.

Chronic stress increases our chances of having major health problems. If our mind is working in overdrive for a long amount of time it begins to take its toll on our body which I mentioned in the symptoms of stress, but they can also accumulate and become more severe.

Another factor with chronic stress is that it becomes more difficult to cope as time goes on and the stress gets worse. This can lead to more extreme coping skills or compulsive coping skills. Activities such as using more medications than prescribed, gambling, increased alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, speeding, binge eating, or restricted eating. Maybe even excessive vacations, sleeping, or spending sprees.

This doesn’t always have to be the case. Many people live many long, productive years under tremendous amounts of stress without noticing extreme effects of it. But why live that way if you can get help and work to manage your stress in a more comfortable way.

How to manage stress and have the life I want?

Well, this hasn’t been the easiest post to write or to read, I’m sure. Stress isn’t easy to talk about and it surely isn’t easy to live with, but we feel like we must. Of course, some stress is out of our control. While, in fact, some stress is positive. What? Positive stress. I know that sounds like opposites but let me take a minute to explain.

Let’s look at a situation like buying a new house. You’ve been saving for the down payment. You looked up things that you want in a house and have an idea what you are looking for. But next is stressful. You apply for a mortgage. You find a realtor and start looking at houses. You find the house of your dreams and close on it. Now you get to move in and unpack. Everything went smooth. You wouldn’t think that should be stressful, but it is. Filling out paperwork, scheduling home visits, packing, scheduling to move, unpacking, it’s all stressful but makes you happy. You have some of those same stress symptoms but for a positive change in your life. That’s okay and totally normal. Stress isn’t always bad.

Anyway, I got off topic slightly, but I think it was important to point out that stress can be positive, and we can realize that too. So here are a few ways to help yourself with stress:

·        Talk more to the trustworthy people in your life

·        Take time off from work and find something relaxing to do

·        Work on better sleep hygiene

·        Practice mindfulness

·        Say “no” more often to things that you don’t want to do

·        Eat healthier

·        Drink more water

·        Find hobbies that you can practice more regularly

·        Spend time in nature

·        Stop and smell the roses, or just slow down and watch your kids play or the sunset

·        Attend counseling

If your stress is overwhelming and you are ready to get the support that you need, reach out to a counselor. Therapy can help work on some of these strategies, understand what is happening in your mind and body, and create a plan that you can manage better. There’s also an article here that goes into more detail about how therapy can help with anxiety. Although we aren’t talking about anxiety today, these reasons are closely related to stress as well so check it out. You can contact me here for a free consultation to see if I can help you manage your stress and create a healthier life.