What causes your stress levels to rise? Could it be worries about your finances? Problems within your family relationships? Busyness at work? Thoughts of an upcoming job interview, exam, or meeting with your boss?
These are just some of the reasons why you might experience stress but you can probably create a list of your own detailing all of the stressors that currently exist in your life.
Stress is a normal consequence of the pressures we face on a daily basis. We could shrug it off and ignore it, with the hope that the stress we feel will eventually go away. However, this is often the wrong approach, if we don’t deal with the stress we are experiencing, our lives could be negatively affected.
These are some of the ways stress can affect your everyday life.
#1: Problems within your body
We all know that stress can affect our mental state but did you know that stress can also have an effect on your body?
Stress can lower your immune system and when this occurs, different things can happen within your body.
Physical effects of stress can include:
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Chest pains
- Muscle aches
- Skin conditions
Of course, some of these conditions can also be linked to health problems outside of stress, but in any case, you shouldn’t dismiss the way you are feeling if symptoms persist.
It’s wise to visit your doctor for any potential stress-related health matters, as they will be able to recommend the best course of action for you. This might include treatments for psoriasis and eczema, two common types of skin conditions that can flare up when stressed, and any other relevant advice related to any other symptom you are experiencing.
#2: Anger problems
You might be the calmest person in the world…until you get stressed! Many of us get angry when our stress gets the better of us and this doesn’t bode well for ourselves or the people around us.
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Our anger can affect family members, work colleagues, and any other person who gets in our way when we’re going about our daily business. If we’re not careful, we can hurt people’s feelings, cause them to retaliate against us, and potentially ruin relationships because of our angry behavior.
So, if you are feeling stressed and if you start to feel anger rise up inside of you, it’s best to find a way to calm yourself down before you say or do something you later regret.
Taking a timeout is often a good idea if you’re able to remove yourself from a situation that has caused you to feel anger. These relaxation techniques are also a useful way to calm your mood when you’re feeling stressed or angry. By taking positive steps to manage the way you are feeling, you will help yourself and protect the people that are around you.
#3: Addictive behaviors
It’s common for people to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms when they are feeling stressed, so this is something you need to watch out for. Sure, you might get a little bit of relief from the way you are feeling temporarily but your health can be negatively affected if you do things that could bring harm to your mental health or body.
Drugs and alcohol are two go-to’s for people needing to numb themselves from stress and so is food that can bring temporary comfort to those who eat away their stressful feelings.
If addiction is a problem for you, it’s wise to seek support from a medical professional and/or rehab center. Speaking to people you can trust is also a good idea as they may be able to offer you some semblance of support when you’re trying to break your addictive behaviors.
Finding better ways to manage your stress should also be your priority. So, you could reduce your stress levels with a hobby or you could go for a walk or commit to some other kind of exercise to improve the way you are feeling.
#4: Trouble getting to sleep
If you struggle to get to sleep, this could be because you are feeling overly stressed. Your mind might be full of worries, so this is one reason why sleep might elude you. But another reason for not getting to sleep is because of the elevation of stress hormones in your body that can disrupt your regular sleeping pattern.
If you do struggle to get to sleep, you should find ways to calm your mind before your head hits the pillow. You might want to take a relaxing bath, for example, or practice meditation. These nightly habits can also increase your chances of a better night’s sleep.
Finally
We all get stressed but we don’t have to let it affect our everyday lives. So, consider the suggestions we have given here if they relate to your situation, and take other steps to reduce the stress you feel when it starts to get on top of you.
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