Stress is something we all experience, and it's normal. It is perfectly normal. When we feel stressed, our body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which help us get ready to deal with whatever is stressing us out. This is called the "fight or flight" response. I remember when I took psychology class in college that talked about “fight or flight” and talked about what if a tiger came into the room right now, what would you do? At that time, I thought well if that happened I would surely not make it.
But too much stress, especially over a long time, can be bad for us. It can make our heart beat faster, raise our blood pressure, and weaken our immune system. Stress can also affect our mood and make us feel anxious or sad.For me it also gives me quite a headache.
To manage stress, we can use techniques like mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises. These help calm our body's stress response and make us feel more relaxed. Sometimes when I’m having my coffee in the morning I do some deep breathing. Or when I was in labor with both my boys I did deep breathing instead of an epidural.
It's also important to address the things that are causing us stress in the first place. This might mean setting boundaries with people or making time for self-care activities we enjoy. And if stress is really getting to us, it's okay to ask for help from friends, family, or a therapist.
By understanding stress and learning how to cope with it, we can take better care of ourselves and feel more in control of our lives. Let's work together to manage stress and live happier, healthier lives.
What is a way you deal with stress? Put it in the comments so we can all help each other.
Here is a self care guide I use.
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