We all know that life brings many obstacles that can lead to long, hard days that bring on lots of stress. Stress can be very hard to deal with and can be problematic on both your body and your mind. A little stress is one thing, but the more stress you have can cause more life threatening effects. It is important to realize when you are feeling stress and deal with it to prevent these future problems to arise. I know this can be extremely difficult sometimes, especially since I am a highly anxious person as it is.
So what are signs of stress or anxiety? There can be a wide range of signs of stress including, rapid/short breathing, stomach aches, head aches, depression, lack of quality sleep (or difficult going to sleep), depression. Stress can also cause issues with your lifestyle. You may find that you don’t want to do much and your eating habits may be drastically different. Anxiety’s main sign is if you find yourself having lots of stress, especially if your stress lasts for days. You may also find that you tend to be a naturally nervous person. Anxiety when not dealt with can cause panic attacks and cannot only be difficult to deal with, but can affect how you live your life daily.
Realizing when you are dealing with stress or anxiety may be simple, but dealing with them can be more complex. Everyone’s body and mind work different so it only make sense that people have to deal with their individual stress and anxiety in their own way. You may also find that the ways you deal with stress may also be based on the situation and the cause of the stress.
Here are some of the things that I have found work for me:
- Running/exercising. Even if it means just going for a light walk sometimes getting away from the situation and working out can blow off all the built up energy.
- Taking deep breaths.
- A bit of relaxation. This can range from yoga, to taking a bath, to some light meditation. Take a minute to just relax and help your mind wander from the stress.
- Drink some tea. Decaffeinated, lavender, kava root, or chamomile teas are great for relaxing the mind and body and perfect before bedtime.
- Read a book.
- Listen to music. Note that the best music is that has slow comforting notes.
Be creative. Draw, write, paint, etc. Sometimes letting your mind flow free through a creative outlet can be a simple way to let all your worries and stress roll off.
Remember everybody is different and therefore there are something’s that will work for some people and not for others. Don’t be afraid to experiment. However watch for any actions that may be a result of anger. Anger is not a healthy way of dealing with stress but can be common when stress and heightened emotions are involved.
