Stress Definition:A condition when someone feels psychologically stressed due to problems. It is a natural human response that motivates us to confront the challenges we experience in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to one degree or another, but the way we respond to it greatly affects our health.
Stress affects both the mind and body, noting that a little stress is good and can help us accomplish daily activities. On the other hand, too much stress can cause physical and mental health problems, so you should learn how to manage it, to feel less stressed and to promote our mental and physical health.
Causes:Most people are exposed to stress or psychological pressure when facing some challenges and difficult things in life, such as losing a job or starting a new job, losing a close person, financial setbacks, or other difficulties and life problems.
Symptoms:Stress can develop many different symptoms, which vary from person to another person, but in general it can affect how you feel physically and mentally, as well as how you behave.
Physical symptoms:- Headache or dizziness.
- Muscle pain.
- Stomach problems.
- Chest pain or an increased heart rate than normal.
- Sexual problems.
Psychological symptoms:- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
- Feeling exhausted.
- Constant anxiety.
- Forgetting.
Behavior changes:- Irritability.
- Oversleep or sleeping deficiency.
- Change in appetite, either by overeating or not enough eating.
- Avoiding certain places or people.
- Drinking alcohol, smoking, or using drugs.
Ways to manage stress:- Identify the causes of stress and take the necessary measures, either by avoiding the situations or events that cause it, or by changing the way you respond to it.
- Build strong, positive relationships, which will enable you to connect with supportive friends and family members when you are going through a difficult time.
- Avoid doing everything at once but set short-term goals that you can easily achieve.
- Ignore things you can't change, focus your time and energy on helping yourself feel better.
- Try not to tell yourself that you are alone, as most people feel stressed at some point in their lives and support is available to them.
- Focus on the positives and avoid the negatives.
- Rest your mind with good sleep, and by doing relaxation exercises, which can help restore energy, such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises.
- Take breaks from social media, especially if it is a source of negative events and news that cause disturbance.
- Set a schedule to maintain a daily routine, which helps in using time efficiently and promotes a feeling of more control.
- Take care of your physical health, which in turn can improve your mental health, by:
- Eat healthy food: fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
- Limit foods high in bad fats, salt and added sugars.
- Get enough sleep and maintain a sleep routine that helps you do this. For example, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on the weekend, avoid using electronic devices before bed, and limit fatty meals and caffeine before bed.
- Move more, sit less, as even a little physical activity helps.
- Consult a psychiatrist when you feel exhausted and when this affects your daily life.
- Avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs.