The most awful thing about stress is that it can easily creep up on you.
Let’s look into the signs and symptoms of stress:
Mental Symptoms:
- Seeing only the negative side
- Anxiety
- Memory problems
- Poor concentration
- Poor judgement
- Constant worrying
Emotional Symptoms:
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Loneliness and isolation
- Increased or reduced appetite
- Moodiness, irritability or anger
- Depression
- Agitation
- Other mental or emotional health problems
Physical Symptoms:
- Trembling and shaking
- Diarrhea and constipation
- Nausea and dizziness
- Chest pain, rapid heart rate
- Loss of sex drive
- Aches
- Frequent colds and flu
- Cold and sweaty palms
- Tiredness and exhaustion
- Weight gain or loss
Behavioral Symptoms:
- Isolating oneself
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
- Eating more or less
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Nervous habits (E.g. nail biting, pacing, etc.)
Both physical and mental stress can disturb blood sugar levels. It also affects blood pressure levels. Stress can cause hypertension by repeated blood pressure elevations as well as by stimulation of the nervous system.
Studies show that stress is not directly responsible for hypertension but it can have an effect on blood pressure. Non-pharmacological treatments to manage stress have been found to be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and the development of hypertension.
Reaction to stress may affect your blood pressure, as hormones temporarily increase your heartbeat and narrow your blood vessels.
7 Fail-Proof Ways To Manage Stress
1. Try to create a positive outlook towards life
2. Engage yourself in pleasurable activities or hobbies
3. A minimum 7 hours of sleep each night is essential for overall health and wellness
4. A balanced healthy diet is very important like fruits, whole grains and fish
5. Managing your professional and personal life and giving quality and sufficient time to both
6. Meditation is very important to manage stress
7. Regular exercises and physical activities can drain off ongoing stress and keep things under control
Relaxation Techniques:
- Read a good novel or watch your favorite film.
- Listen to your favorite music or motivational recordings.
- Burn some aromatherapy candles.
- Laughter is the best medicine. Remember to laugh aloud at a joke or watch a funny movie.
- Yoga is the oldest self-development technique for stress relief and overall health.
So don’t worry, be happy, laugh all the time and be stress free!