Stress in everyday term, is feeling overloaded or struggling to cope with demands from work, home or other sources. In 2015, the American Psychological Association (APA), found that the average stress levels in the United States rose from 4.9 to 5.1 on a scale from 1 to 10. The main reason was employment and money.
The Types
Acute stress is often caused by thinking about pressures of a recent past or an upcoming event. For example, the 14-days of Hell(th) did cause some stress for some people because, yep, no sugar for two weeks is a pretty serious deal. It is tough!
Episodic acute stress is a frequent stress or frequent triggers of stress. People who worry too much are prone to episodic stress. Stop worrying people, take some time to smell those beautiful roses on your neighbor's lawn or your own.
Chronic Stress is the most harmful type of stress and grinds over a long period. This is where we abs-solutely don't want be. However, ongoing poverty, dysfunctional family, or an unhappy marriage can cause chronic stress. It is easy to go unnoticed, as people can become used to it, which can cause breakdowns that can lead to suicide, violent actions, heart attacks, and strokes.
Causes
Major life events such as employment issues or retirement, lack of time and money, bereavement, family problem, and illness can trigger stress. These triggers can lead to changes in your body, such as slowing of normal bodily functions, like digestive and immune systems and an increase in inability to sleep.
But don't fright......its not all bad news.
Stress can be a motivator. It can be very essential to survival. The trigger leads to an increase in heart rate, heightened muscle preparedness, sweating, and alertness. All these factors improve the ability to respond to hazardous or challenging situations.
Ways to Manage
Exercise: studies shows that exercise can BennettFit a person's mental and physical state.
Reduce your intake of alcohol, drugs, and caffeine: These substances will not help prevent stress, and can make it worse. Cut them or reduce them. Sorry guys, fewer trips to Starbucks or not at all. Oh, those glasses of wine....no more or....very few times in between.
Nutrition: A healthy, balance diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables helps maintain the immune systems at times of stress. A poor diet will lead to ill health and additional stress. Remember, 25gms of sugar per day, so don't go all out on the fruits and veggies.
Talking: Talking to family, friends, work colleagues, and your boss about your thoughts and worries will help you "let off steam." You may be comforted to find that you are "not the only one." You may even find there is an easy solutions you had not considered. So ladies, keep on talking and gents, its OK, join the conversation.
Find your own destressor: Find that something that helps you relax. Whether its reading a book, going for a walk, listening to music, or spending time with a friend or a pet, get your destressing on.