April is Stress Awareness Month

Stress is everywhere. It’s lurking behind that fast-approaching-deadline on our calendar at work. As secondhand, it weaves in between our loved ones who are going through a particularly stressful time. It appears out of nowhere as a pound on our horn when we’re stuck in traffic. It’s unavoidable. But, fortunately, that doesn’t mean it’s unmanageable. Stress Awareness Month is a great opportunity to evaluate the sources of stress in your life and discover effective coping skills to make managing difficult situations less stressful.

What is stress?

Stress is a surge of hormones in your body that occurs when your brain detects danger. Many of us often only think of the negative effects it has on our body and strive to eliminate it from our lives completely. However, stress signals are not all bad. In fact, that surge of hormones your body is flushed with when danger is detected is what can save your life in a fight-or-flight situation. Medical News Today explains that when we are faced with a challenge, part of our body’s response is physical: Our brain is preparing our body to either “stay and fight or get away as fast as possible.”

Can stress be a good thing?

In short, yes. According to Psychology Today some researchers suggest that moderate level exposure to stress can actually make certain individuals stronger and better equipped to handle future stressors particularly by leading them to view common stressors as more manageable.

Health.com lists multiple benefits short-term, everyday stress can benefit your brain and body including motivating you to succeed. Check out other benefits here.

What are the effects of chronic stress?

While some researchers may argue that a small amount of stress on certain individuals might be a good thing, chronic stress that begins to negatively affect your life is definitely an area for concern. According to the Mayo Clinic, long-term activation of the stress-response system puts your body at risk of various health problems including:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • Digestive Problems
  • Heart disease
  • Sleep problems
  • Weight gain
  • Memory and concentration impairment

Tips on handling stress

Now that we understand how stress works and that it’s impossible to completely eliminate it from our lives, we can still look for ways to reduce its impact on our lives. Chronic stress can be extremely dangerous, so it’s important that we spend time trying to find a method that helps us to reduce our stress. Recently, a lot of people have found that various strains of marijuana have been effective for this, and you can use things such as these naples marijuana cards to gain access to helpful products . Whilst it might not work for everyone, it could be worth giving it a go. Perhaps some people would like to read a purple og kush strain review online, for example. That could help them to see if it works or not. Often when people try marijuana, they are worried about both the effects and the method of consumption. Some may take marijuana in easier forms, such as oils, creams, or edibles, while others might feel more comfortable using accessories such as this sherlock smoking pipe and other items. It all depends on what is right for you, in the end it is all about helping you to manage your stress. For instance, whereas some people prefer to get their cannabis fix via a pipe, others prefer to use cannabis resin. Accordingly, you can learn more about resin and some of the other different types of cannabis products out there by checking out websites like this one: https://oregrown.com/pages/portland-flagship-store. Chronic stress is so dangerous, so it’s important that sufferers try and find some coping mechanisms to keep them in good health. Here are 8 other tips on how to incorporate techniques into your daily routine to better handle stress:

  1. Reduce/ eliminate artificial stress reducers such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
  2. Exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet including fresh fruits and veggies, complex carbs and moderate amounts of protein.
  3. Set good sleep habits Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day to maintain a consistent routine.
  4. Time management is a learned skill that will go a long way in helping you juggle the many responsibilities that fill your day. Identify how much time your tasks will take to complete and allow yourself sufficient time.
  5. Become comfortable saying “no” when necessary. You cannot do it all, nor should you try to.
  6. Practice deep breathing exercises. Taking long, deep breaths helps is a simple but powerful tool that can allow you to feel less anxious.
  7. Remove yourself from uncomfortable situations when you feel your body beginning to react.
  8. Accept that stress is a part of life and keep problems in perspective. When stressful situations occur, devote the appropriate amount of effort to correcting the issue and move forward.

For more tips on handling stress, the Help Guide has further coping techniques here.

Do you have tried and true techniques that help you deal with stress? Share your tips with us below!