Recognizing the Effects of Stress
Make no bones about it; stress is a part of life for all of us, and it is here to stay. That’s why learning to manage stress is vital for maintaining good mental health. Managing stress begins with being able to recognize it. Stress manifests as symptoms. Our instincts often lead us to react impulsively or accept the effects of stress are unavoidable.
Sometimes we aren’t even consciously aware of the impact. When we do notice them, we may not always attribute them to stress. Instead, we blame ourselves for how we feel or believe the effects of stress are evidence of a personal shortcoming.
Physical signs of stress can include headache, insomnia and tension in the jaw and neck muscles. It is common to experience these symptoms of stress without being aware of the cause. They may cause us to resort to self-medicating with drugs or alcohol as a means of coping.
Some symptoms of stress are psychological. They can include difficulty focusing, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed, depression and anger. Again, people experiencing these mental health symptoms may be unaware that stress is the root cause.
This lack of awareness may lead to decisions that do not reduce stress and may even increase it. These reactions often affect not only us but the people in our lives.
Chronic stress has compound effects on your physical health. These include digestive problems along with irregular sleep, cardiovascular and even reproductive issues. Our bodies aren’t intended to be in a heightened state of stress most of the time. If any of this sounds familiar to you, take a deep breath and relax. There are solutions to manage stress.
If you have just confirmed that stress is a problem for you, then it is essential you practice self-care. You deserve not to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You also don’t want your reactions to stress to hurt relationships with the people you love. So, you may ask, what can you do to find relief from the effects of stress?
How to Cultivate Good Mental Health by Unravelling Stress
So, you’ve recognized the effects of stress in your own life. No one wants to let stress get the better of them. It diminishes our quality of life and can also impact the people we love.
Have you snapped at someone you care about when you were under stress, only to regret it later? Most of us can’t eliminate every source of stress in our lives. But, we can improve matters significantly by being aware of sources and triggers and practicing self-care to counteract the effects of stress.
Helpful stress management tips:
- Recognition and acceptance. Know what your stress triggers are. Accept your limitations and the things you cannot change. Work on managing the rest with kindness.
- Time management. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. Be sure to set aside time for self-care. Establish boundaries to protect your mental health.
- Take care of yourself. Exercise regularly and eat well. Add a relaxing activity to your days, such as meditation or prayer.
- Ask for help and don’t isolate. Stay connected to the people you love. If you feel overwhelmed, consider professional mental health help.
Practice healthy stress management and establish balance
Learning to manage the sources and effects of stress in your life is essential to good mental health. We all have stress, so know that you are not alone. You deserve balance in your life. Sometimes we need help to recognize sources of stress and adopt behaviors to improve mental health.
If you or someone you care about is living with a mental health disorder or is having trouble managing stress, call us at (888) 651-7238.