Stress can affect every area of your health.
Learn how it works and what you can do to keep it under control.
Stress is normal, something everyone experiences.
In small doses, stress can be a good thing. It moves you to do your best
and stay focused and alert, but when too much stress builds up,
it can affect how you feel physically and emotionally.
Anything that forces you to change or adjust can be a stressor.
You may think that stress is usually about something
really big, serious or overwhelming, but a lot of times, stress is caused
by the build-up of daily little things.
Stress is an individual thing. Everyone doesn't stress about the same things.
Something that's stressful to you may not be stressful to someone else.
Any one source of stress may be easy to handle, but when more and more
frustrating, irritating and stressful things happen,
stress can build up until you feel overwhelmed.
The stress response is meant to protect you as part of your body's defence system.
When you are under stress — emotional or physical — your body pumps out a
stress hormone called adrenaline, which prepares you for emergency action.
Your heart rate increases, and more blood flows to your large muscles.
Your pupils dilate so you see better.
Your blood sugar ramps up, giving you a big energy boost.
The problem with the stress response is that the more it is activated, the harder it is to shut off.
Your nervous system can sense continued stress and may pump out
extra stress hormones over an extended period of time.
When stress builds up, the increased tension or energy
can lead to physical changes in your body.
Having a serious or chronic illness just adds to the problem.
The physical changes from stress can lead to an increase
in your symptoms of pain, stiffness and fatigue.
Stress also affects your emotions or how you feel.
Too much stress can make you feel sad, anxious, tense, angry and overwhelmed.
Negative thinking and bad feelings can also increase your stress.
It goes in a cycle. Stress can cause bad feelings.
In turn, bad feelings can make stress seem harder to deal with.
Stress looks different for everyone.
It is important to learn what clues your body gives you to tell you it is stressed.
This way, you will know when you are stressed and can learn ways to reduce it.
Here are some of the ways that stress can affect your body:
Churning or upset stomach
Fast and shallow breathing
Tight muscles that cannot relax in your face, neck and back
Feeling shaky
Fast heartbeat
Sweaty hands
Low energy
Not sleeping well
Headaches
Here are some ways that stress can make you feel:
Overwhelmed
Moody and hypersensitive
Unconfident
Restless or anxious
Depressed
Angry and frustrated
Easily irritated and "on edge"
Here are some of the ways that stress can affect your behaviour:
Nervous habits, like nail biting or pacing
Sleeping too much or too little
Overdoing activities such as exercising
Isolating yourself from others
Neglecting your responsibilities
Increasing alcohol and drug use
Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
Losing your temper
Eating more or less
And here are some of the ways that stress can affect your mind:
Forgetting things
Poor judgment
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty making decisions
Seeing only the negative
Repetitive or racing thoughts
Here are some ways to reduce stress:
Stress can be managed. With some simple techniques,
you can learn how to reduce stress in your life.
Learn to pay attention to your body and the level of stress and tension you are feeling.
A healthy lifestyle can help you manage your stress.
Eat well-balanced meals, drink less caffeine, get enough sleep, exercise regularly.
Learn exercises, like belly breathing or controlled muscle relaxation, that can help your body relax.
Try distraction therapies that might help take your mind off the stressors.
Learn to recognize your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
Using your thoughts effectively can help you with stress.
Stress can be a daily part of life.
We all experience different levels of stress at different times.
Managing stress is a useful and healthy exercise that has lifelong benefits.