Feeling stressed out doesn’t just take a toll on our mental health.
If you find yourself frequently stressed, you may have a much higher risk for aches, pains, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Although reducing your stress can improve your overall health, it’s often easier said than done. Read more to learn about managing stress, or contact Core Medicine of Idaho’s family practice today to request an appointment at our Caldwell urgent care.
How Stress Affects Your Body
Stress is more than an uncomfortable feeling.
Almost everyone experiences stress, because your body is designed for it. Stress is often prompted by sudden change or challenges, termed “stressors.” In some situations, stress can even be beneficial, giving you the energy and attention span to avoid dangerous situations.
However, if stress isn’t properly managed, it can become a problem, affecting your mental health and physical well-being in a variety of different ways. Some of the most common symptoms of stress include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Headaches
- Muscle pain and tension
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Chest pain
- Changes in your sex drive
- Sleep problems
Stress is also correlated to behavioral issues, like alcohol use disorder, gambling addiction, and over- or under-eating. If you experience chronic stress or anxiety, you may even have a higher-than-average risk of illness. This is due, in part, to the physiological changes induced by stress—changes that put your body on edge and take resources away from your immune system.
10 Ways to Reduce Stress and Improve Your Health
Everyone has different stressors and tolerances, so people often respond differently to the same stress-reduction strategies. However, some common steps are proven to actively reduce stress in most adults. These include:
1. Taking Time for Relaxation
Engaging in regular relaxing activities, like yoga or meditation, can help reduce stress in several key ways. Yoga, for instance, is a form of exercise—and, like all exercises, it can release endorphins, making you feel good by moving and learning to control your body.
2. Prioritizing Your Body
Taking care of your body the right way can make a big difference. Eating healthy food, getting regular exercise, and following up on your medical concerns—rather than hoping they’ll go away on their own—can go a long way in minimizing common lifestyle-related stressors.
3. Learning to Say “No”
Most people already know that work and family are among the two most common causes of stress. Sometimes, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, saying “no” to new projects and commitments can give your brain the time it needs to recuperate.
4. Spending More Time with Friends and Family
In today’s busy world, making time for friends and family isn’t always easy—we’re busy, they’re busy, and arranging casual meet-ups can feel like scheduling an appointment. However, socialization is integral to managing stress; simply spending time around the people you care about, even for short periods of time, can go a long way in alleviating common stress-related symptoms.
5. Making Hobbies Part of Your Routine
Developing engaging hobbies can be difficult, especially as a working adult.
Nevertheless, hobbies—simple, complex, passive, or active—can provide a distraction from your daily stressors, providing regular and much-needed relief from the pressures of work and home.
6. Getting Enough Sleep Every Night
Most Americans don’t get enough sleep every night.
Over time, chronic sleep deprivation can take a significant toll on the body, weakening your health and further increasing your levels of stress. If you’re having a hard time getting enough sleep but don’t know why, you may need to contact a medical professional for answers.
7. Staying Away from Cigarettes
Cigarettes are paradoxical. On the one hand, people often smoke to alleviate feelings of stress and discomfort. On the other, some studies have shown that smoking is itself a stressor—to the point that smokers, on average, tend to report higher levels of daily stress than non-smokers.
8. Cutting Down on Alcohol
Alcohol consumption isn’t very dangerous in moderation, but regular or nightly drinking—even in modest quantities—can take a toll on your health.
9. Limiting Your Social Media Use
Social media use is increasingly identified as a leading cause of stress among children, teenagers, and younger adults. However, social media can stress anyone out, sometimes by taking the form of more engaging hobbies and activities.
10. Taking a Proactive Approach to Your Health
Stress is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.
If you’re feeling stressed to the point that it might be taking a toll on your quality of life, talk to a medical provider today. Core Medicine of Idaho’s compassionate staff has experience diagnosing and treating stress, including stress caused by work and stress caused by mental health conditions.