by
Jason Ramdewar | Apr 07, 2021
Stress Awareness Month
What is Stress? Stress, either physiological, biological, or psychological is an organism's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition. Stress is the body's method of reacting to a condition such as a threat, challenge or physical and psychological barrier. Stimuli that alter an organism's environment are responded to by multiple systems in the body. In humans and most mammals, the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are the two major systems that respond to stress.
Stress Awareness Month has been recognized in April, since 1992.
During this annual thirty day period, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.
Why Stress Awareness Month is Important
- It reminds us to pay attention to our health
According to the official website, "Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society."
- It's going strong
Stress Awareness Month has been an ongoing campaign of awareness and education since 1992.
- Because we're all feeling it
A recent survey found that about two-thirds of U.S. workers report engaging in behavior such as drinking or crying regularly in order to deal with stress.
Stress does not simply afflict your mind; it can additionally have an effect on you on a cell level. In fact, long-term stress can lead to a huge variety of illnesses—from headaches to belly disorders to depression—and can even enlarge the threat of serious stipulations like stroke and coronary heart disease. Understanding the mind/stress/health connection can help you better control stress and improve your fitness and well-being.
The Fight or Flight Response
The sympathetic stress response is a survival mechanism that is hardwired into our frightened systems. This automatic response is essential for mobilizing quick reflexes when there is imminent danger, such as swerving to avoid an automobile crash.
When you identify a threat, stress hormones rush into your bloodstream—increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. Other hormones also suppress features like digestion and the immune system, which is one of the reasons why chronic stress can leave you more inclined to illness.
Danger triggers the stress response. Unfortunately, so can work conflicts, issues over debt, awful memories, or anxiousness in general. Although one bad day at work may not compromise your health, weeks or months of stress can dampen your immune response and increase your chance for disease.
Combat Your Stress
If you go through from continual stress and can't impact or trade the situation, then you will need to change your approach. Be willing to be flexible. Remember, you have the capacity to pick out your response to stressors, and you can also have to attempt more than a few options.
- Recognize when you don't have control, and let it go.
- Don't get anxious about situations that you cannot change.
- Take control of your own reactions and focus your mind on something that makes you feel calm and in control. This may take some practice, but it pays off in peace of mind.
- Develop a vision for healthy living, wellness, and personal growth, and set realistic goals to help you realize your vision.
Relax and Recharge
Be sure to carve out some time to relax and take care of yourself each day—even just 10 to 15 minutes per day can improve your ability to handle life's stressors. Also, remember that exercise is an excellent stress reliever.
Everyone has different ways they like to relax and unwind. Here are a few ideas to get you started: