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April is Stress Awareness Month

 Managing Stress: A Major Component of a Healthy Lifestyle


Hey Y'all... 

I'm heading to Florida for a long weekend, but I didn't want to leave y'all hanging without a musing. 
...And since April is Stress Awareness Month, let's chatter about that. 
Stress..

Stress 

...is a physical and emotional reaction that we experience when challenges in life run up on us!

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, when we’re under stress our bodies react by releasing hormones that produce a “fight-or-flight” response.

Our heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure go up; our muscles tense, and we may even start sweating. These physiological responses are all fine and dandy, because occasional stress is a normal coping mechanism. 

However, long-term stress a.k.a. chronic stress may contribute to or worsen a range of health problems, some of which include digestive disorders, headaches, worsening asthma, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.

Here's a refresher on some symptoms stress can cause:
• Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration.
• Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests.
• Trouble concentrating and making decisions.
• Nightmares or problems sleeping.
• Worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions
• Increased use of alcohol, illegal drugs 

Stress is No Bueno... And technically, there's no cure to stress...
...I mean, there are medications that target stress symptoms.
However, what's better than popping pills, downing beers, or smoking the good herb to cope with stress is knowing how to recognize our triggers and manage stress. 

Right? 😊

Knowing your body and how it responds to stress can build resilience, improve mental and physical well-being and decrease or prevent the advancement of health-related issues.

Managing it All

Doom-scrolling news stories and social media can be upsetting and is sometimes a recipe for distress! Consider limiting news to just a couple times a day and disconnect from your phone and TV for a while.

Take care of your body 

Here's a cliche saying with a touch of me, "Your body is your temple; an amusement park, so enjoy the ride!"

A few stress reduction suggestions to note:

More tips:

  • Eat healthy. Have fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Limit foods with unhealthy fats, salt, and added sugars. 
  • Get enough sleep. Seems like studies encourage emphasize this ALL THE TIME!  Sleep is so essential y'all. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time each day to help you sleep better. Adults need 7 or more hours per night.
  • Move more and sit less. Yeah, 😅this concept is mentioned in previous blogs too. Every little bit of physical activity matters. Start small and build up to 1 or 2 ½ hours. a week. You can break it into smaller amounts such as 15-20 minutes a day, then work your way up to 30 minutes.

The EAP Program

The National Institute of Health also offers several resources that can assist managers and employees in dealing with stress and anxiety. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers confidential counseling designed to assist employees with personal issues that may affect their work performance, health, and well-being, including:
  • mental health issues
  • stress management
  • substance abuse 
  • financial problems 
  • family conflicts, and more.

Employers often cover the cost of EAP services, and the EAP counselors are trained professionals who can provide short-term counseling, assessment, and referral services. 

The EAP program is a valuable resource, y'all. I've used it before, it's confidential, and I 10/10 recommend👍
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Here are additional sites offering stress education and coping resources:



We Got This!
EM


REFERENCES:


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