Are you feeling like you can’t take on even one more responsibility? One more item on your to-do list? Listen to one more person’s problems? Are you being pulled in several directions at once and don’t know how to stop the madness?
You are not alone! Stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, like having too many competing tasks, being sick, or not getting enough rest. Stress can be short-lived (a single event or short period of time) or it can happen repeatedly and last a long time.
Stress can develop into anxiety if left unchecked, and anxiety can affect our sleep, cardiovascular health, immune response, and digestive, reproductive, and mental well-being.
As we recognize stress awareness month, think about ways you can manage your stress by identifying what your triggers are and concentrate on developing your coping techniques:
Here are a few to experiment with:
- Keep a journal
- Get plenty of sleep and exercise
- Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts
- Reach out to family and friends to share your challenges and get support
- Download an app that teaches relaxation exercises like deep breathing or guided meditation
- Explore the CredibelMind website for tips and techniques to help you manage stress and anxiety – fvhd.crediblemind.com
Some resources to help you manage stress:
https://orwh.od.nih.gov/in-the-spotlight/all-articles/7-steps-to-manage-stress-and-build-resilience