A Guide to Understanding and Coping with Stress
Did you know that on every first Wednesday in November, Stress Awareness Day is celebrated? This annual observance was created to help people become more aware of the harmful effects of stress on their health and to encourage them to find better ways of coping with the pressure that comes from everyday life and work situations.
If you’re feeling stressed out or anxious, you should take some time to read through this informative guide on stress; it will help you understand how to manage your stress so it doesn’t get in the way of leading an enjoyable, healthy life!
What is stress?
From the point of view of science, stress is a reaction to non-specific adaptation, the most complex psycho-physiological mechanism that helps our body adapt to changing living conditions. The mechanism of stress is activated in situations that require a person’s great physical, mental, or emotional effort. Too much stress over time can result in mental health disorders like anxiety or depression.
Stages of stress
- Anxiety stage – when an unpleasant situation has happened to a person, and they begin to experience negative emotions, then internal resources are mobilized in order to overcome negative emotions.
- Resistance stage – all internal resources are aimed at combating negative emotions, and if a person has stress resistance skills, then at this stage, one can safely cope with stress. If this does not happen, then stress passes into the next stage – the stage of exhaustion.
- The stage of exhaustion – all the internal resources of a person are used up, and a person often experiences sadness, melancholy, apathy, and lethargy.
Of course, stress is a companion of our lives. And it is not the stressful situation itself that is important, but how a person reacts to stress.
Methods for the prevention of stress conditions
Sleep
After a good sleep, a person’s condition always improves. During this period, the body replenishes the forces spent during the day, so healthy sleep is simply necessary for normal functioning.
Healthy sleep rules:
- go to bed at the same time;
- sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- do not eat at night;
- do not use caffeine and other products that excite the nervous system before going to bed;
- ventilate the room;
- exclude extraneous sounds because even if a person is fast asleep and does not hear these sounds, they are still perceived by the brain.
Aromatherapy
The human brain is influenced not only by sounds, voice, or own thoughts but also by the smells that it feels. Receptors in the nose send signals to the brain center and also activate consciousness.
Aromatherapy causes positive emotions, affects mood, and, most importantly, suppresses all the negativity that can cause stress. In addition, a relaxing massage with aromatic oils and incense will help you escape from problems and promote relaxation of the body. And hot baths with the addition of aromatic oils improve blood circulation, and also contribute to the normalization of the emotional state.
Smells that have a beneficial effect on a person’s mood:
- citrus;
- verbena;
- jasmine;
- pine;
- vanilla.
Exercise
Sports, like dancing, help maintain physical fitness and allow the body to rest from the usual work and home life. The state of stress prepares a person for physical exertion, and it is physical exercises that allow you to safely get rid of this excess energy.
Stay Positive
You should not take everything to heart and worry about every little thing. Learn to calmly perceive any events in your life. Imagine that you are a sieve or a cloud, and all stresses pass through you without leaving a trace. Focus on positive thoughts and memories.
Hobby
A hobby is wonderful stress prevention. So ask yourself: what do I like to do? Perhaps read books, write poetry, cook culinary masterpieces, or study psychology.
Psychological help
If your nerve strength is running out and nothing pleases you, consult a psychologist. Now there are enough professionals in this field who will help you cope with stress.
Proper nutrition
Nutrition should be balanced, complete, and adapted to withstand the effects of stressors. A person should receive all the necessary nutrients for the synthesis of stress hormones, and these are proteins and vitamins of groups B, C, E, and A. Foods that are rich in these substances are milk, liver, eggs, fish roe, boiled green leafy vegetables, wheat bran, yeast.
It is very important to remember that our life is bright and interesting. Try to enjoy every day you live; then the stress will recede by itself.
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