This site is best viewed using Mozilla Firefox browser.

Mental Health

2013-04-29 13:41:42

Fight stress with healthy habits

Q-A lot of people I know have come to accept living with stress, because it’s there every day. What can we do to better manage and reduce stress in this very fast paced life?

A-If you were to ask a dozen people to define stress, explain what causes their stress, or pinpoint how stress affects them, you would likely get 12 different answers. The reason for this is that there is no definition of stress, because what is stressful for one person may be pleasurable or have little effect on others. We all experience and react to stress differently. Stress is simply a reaction to a stimulus that disturbs our physical or mental thoughts and balance. A stressful event can trigger the "fight-or-flight" response, causing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to surge through the body. A little bit of stress, known as "acute stress," can be exciting—it keeps us active and alert. But long-term, or "chronic stress," can have detrimental effects on our health. You may not be able to control all of the stressors in your world, but you can alter your reaction to them. Healthy habits can protect you from the harmful effects of stress. Here are 10 positive, healthy habits you may want to develop: Talk with family and friends. A daily dose of friendship is great medicine. Visit, call or email your friends and family members to share your feelings, hopes and joys. Engage in daily physical activity. Regular physical activity relieves mental and physical tension. Physically active adults have lower risk of depression and loss of mental functioning. Physical activity can be a great source of pleasure, too. Try walking, swimming, biking or dancing every day. Accept change and the things you cannot change. View change as an opportunity for growth. Since growth can't occur without change, look at change as a positive rather than a negative thing. See it as a means of developing personally, improving your circumstances and bettering your life. Remember to laugh. Laughter makes you feel good. Don't be afraid to laugh out loud at a joke, a funny movie or a book, even when you're alone. Give up the bad habits. Too much alcohol, cigarettes or caffeine can increase stress. Replace these with healthy habits. Slow down. Try to "pace" instead of "race." Plan ahead and allow enough time to get the most important things done. Get enough sleep. Try to get six to eight hours of sleep each night. If you can't sleep, take steps to help reduce stress and the things that are interfering with your sleep. Physical activity also may improve the quality of sleep. Get organized. Use "to do" lists to help you focus on your most important tasks. Approach big tasks one step at a time. For example, start by organizing just one part of your life — your car, desk, kitchen, closet, cupboard or drawer. Try not to worry. The world won't end if your grass isn't mowed or your kitchen isn't cleaned. You may need to do these things, but today might not be the right time. Eat well Good nutrition is an effective strategy to take care of your body during stressful times and also helps to relieve stress levels. If you have a lot stress, the best way to deal with it is to take a look at what’s causing your stress and see if there are changes that you could make. Taking steps to manage your stress can have numerous health benefits and help you feel so much better. After trying to work through your stress, if you continue to be overwhelmed, you may want to talk with someone who can help you address the emotions, manage the stress, and help you find ways to change some unhealthy behaviors.