Stress can be a good thing. It gives you an extra push when you need it. It can spur you to action if facing danger. Continued stress, however, can wreak havoc with your health.
This time of year can be extremely stressful with the shopping, and dealing with relatives. This year we’ve also had some local and national tragedies that many, including myself, are having a hard time dealing with. Some common symptoms of stress:
- Your eating habits may change. Some people will eat more in reaction to stress. Some will eat less. Some will look for junk food.
- You may feel tired and run down. Sleep can be hard to come by for some people, but even those who are getting enough can feel exhausted. It can be difficult to focus, making it difficult to get through your daily tasks.
- Some even get physical symptoms such as aches and pains, upset stomach, headaches, or back pain.
Continued unchecked, and this stress could end up having long term effects on your body. Depression, high blood pressure, weight gain, and skin problems can all result. So how do you deal with the stress and bring your mind and body back into balance?
The obvious answer is to relax. Yoga and meditation can help you to calm your mind and bring back focus to the body. Getting a massage can also help the body relax.
Get enough rest. This can be difficult if you’re like me and sleep becomes elusive. I’ve found that meditation right before bed can help ensure I get a full night sleep. There are also some herbal sleep aids, such as melatonin, that can help you sleep.
Eat right. Try and focus on what you are eating, and how often you are eating. Stay away from junk food and make sure you’re getting in enough fruits and vegetables. Along with this, avoid unhealthy foods and moderate your alcohol intake.
Exercise. Whether you go for a walk, hit the weights, or take it out on the punching bag, the important thing is to get moving. There is strong evidence showing that exercise can help relieve symptoms of depression.
Talk to someone. It can be your spouse, friend, neighbor, religious official, or a therapist. Getting your thoughts out of your head and in the open alone can help. You don’t need to deal with stress alone.