Everyone has stress to some degree, most especially during this present pandemic of Covid-19 and restrictions being put in place. According to a study from the well-known Mayo Clinic, most adults report being under increasing levels of stress. Modern life is filled with change and uncertainty. Consider just some of the changes and uncertainties that contribute to stress:-
* severe Illness
* the death of a loved one
* a hectic pace of life
* divorce
* disaster - natural or man-made
* pressure at school or work
* worries about employment and financial security
* loss of job
It is not from just one big problem but from many situations, from struggle to physical illness and so on. Stress is your body's response to a demanding situation. Your brain cause hormones to flood your system. These increase your heart rate, regulate your blood pressure, expand or constrict the capacity of your lungs and tense your muscles. Stress may not affect everyone in the same way. It can contribute to a wide range of disease. And it can affect nearly every part of the body. Prolonged, extreme or chronic stress can harm you. You may begin to suffer physically, emotionally and mentally. Your behaviour, including the way you treat others and yourself, may change. Chronic stress can also lead to substance abuse, binge eating disorder and other unhealthy means of coping.
How Stress Can Affect Your Body
Stress can affect nearly every part of the body. When your body is repeatedly or constantly in "high alert" says the American Psychological Association, "can be devastating, putting you at risk of physical illness, martial strain, anxiety, and depression. Here is how stress can affect some types of your body:-
MUSCULASKELETAL SYSTEM
Your muscles tense up to protect you from injury. Too much stress can lead to :-
* body aches and pain
* tension headaches
* muscle spasms
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Your glands produce the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which helps the body react to stress. Your liver increase your blood sugar level to give you more energy. Too much stress can lead to:-
* diabetes
* lower immunity and increased illness
* mood swings
* weight gain
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
Since the stress response begins in your brain, the way your body processes food is disrupted. Too much stress can lead to:-
* nausea
* vomiting
* diarrhea
* constipation
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Your heart beats faster and harder to distribute blood throughout your body. Blood vessels dilate or constrict to direct blood where your body needs it the most, such as in your muscles. Too much stress can lead to:-
* high blood pressure
* heart attack
* stroke
How To Deal With Stress And Aid Weight-loss Effectively
To deal effectively with stress, you need to think about your physical health, the way you interact with others, your goals and priorities in life - that is, what you consider to be truly important.
1. Try To Live One Day At A Time
Daily anxieties are a part of life. But, do not increase today's anxieties by adding tomorrow's to them. Try to live one day at a time.
Stress can cause anxiety. So try this:-
* first, recognize that some stress is inevitable. Fretting over things you cannot prevent increase your stress.
* secondly, understand that quite often things do not turn out the way we may fear they will.
2. Set Reasonable Standard
Do not be a perfectionist. Avoid setting unrealistically high standards for yourself or others.
* be modest, set reasonable standards, and know both your limitations and those of others. When you do this, you will reduce stress all around and even encourage greater success.
3. Know What Stresses You
Identify what stress you, and note your response. For example, when you feel stressed, note your thoughts, feelings and behavior, perhaps even making a record of them. By becoming more aware of your response to stress, you may be able to deal with it more effectively.
* see the positive side of a situation. A long wait at the doctor's office or an airport is easier to bear if you use the time to do some reading or to catch up on work or e-mail.
* keep the big picture in mind. Ask yourself, "will this problem be a big issue tomorrow or next week?. Distinguish between minor or short term issue and more serious ones.
4. Try To Be Orderly
Try to maintain order in your life. We like a reasonable amount of order in life. One thing that can contribute to disorder and stress is - procrastination, and this may lead to a growing list of unfinished tasks.
* make a practical schedule and stick to it. You should also identify and correct any attitudes that cause you to procrastinate.
5. Pursue A Balance Lifestyle
Make time to relax. You relieve stress when you do things you enjoy. However, passive recreation, such as watching TV, may not help.
6. Take Care Of Your Health
Regular exercise promotes better health. Develop healthful habits. Physical activity can lift your mood and improve your body's response to stress. Eat nutritious food, and try to avoid skipping meals. Be sure to get enough rest.
* avoid harmful "solutions" to stress, such as smoking or drug and alcohol abuse. In the long run, these heighten stress, perhaps by robbing you of your health and hard-earned money.
* see your doctor if your stress becomes overwhelming. Getting professional help is not an admission of failure.
7. Set Priorities
Carefully consider your priorities. List your tasks in order of importance. This will help you focus on the more important jobs, and it will reveal which ones you can put off, delegate, or even eliminate.
* for a week, keep track of how you use your time. Then look for ways to make better use of it. The more you are in control, the less pressured you will feel.
* schedule some downtime. Even short breaks can reinvigorate you and reduce your stress
8. Get Support
Kind, compassionate words from others can lift your spirits.
* talk things over with an understanding person. A confident may help you to see things differently or even to see a solution you overlooked. And just unburdening yourself can make you feel better.
* ask for help.
We may also get stress relief by treating ourselves kindly. For example, we should love ourselves for who we are. Know that to lose weight requires time and dedication. We shouldn't go on about making harsh or unrealistic demands on ourselves. Nor should we belittle or malign ourselves.
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