Stress has been defined in various ways by recognizable organizations, institutes and medical practitioners. It could be an emotional, mental, or physical tension. Let’s zoom in on mental stress. This state of tension is caused by challenging situations people find themselves in. Its onset could be triggered by new experiences or when we feel we are no longer in control of the same events that happen in our lives. Everyone goes through stress at a point, but how long it lasts influences how that stress affects our health.
Mental stress is triggered by diverse factors including work, heartbreak, marriage celebrations, divorce, death of a loved one, holidays, bankruptcy, and disruption of a routine, among others. All or any situation that is likely to cause you to feel alarmed. People classically associate fatigue and headaches/migraines to feeling stressed but there are many more signs of stress especially in adults; crying/sadness, isolation, anorexia, forgetfulness, agitation, and depression.
Stress is not all bad. In small manageable doses, it has some beneficial impact on the body. For instance, acute stress improves cognitive performance and alertness. This is seen in situations like preparing for a work presentation when a deadline is near or finding yourself on stage delivering a speech. However, this does not affect everyone the same way.
Notwithstanding, it is important to develop ways of personally coping with one’s stress. Here are a few recommendations;
- Get a good sleep regimen (a minimum of four hours daily)
- Eat balanced healthy meals and indulge your cravings once in a while
- Exercise daily
- Create time for leisure to relax. Some leisure activities include going for walks, dancing, cooking, and all other activities that take you away from your usual responsibilities for a while
- Have a quiet period of meditation or reading
- Socialisation is another good strategy. Engage family, friends and coworkers in heartful jovial conversations. Alongside de-stressing, it also helps you stay connected with others
There are many more ways of relieving stress. The focus is to be conscious about creating space to de-stress for good mental health. Take care of yourself, dear one.