Do you bury your feelings of stress in order to deal with them another day? Perhaps you bury yourself in work, or you compartmentalize and store stressful thoughts in your mind? Do you act destructively toward inanimate objects or verbally attack others?
Stress can have a variety of effects on your body. These frequently include your:
- immune system
- hormonal levels
- cyclic patterns
- pelvic floor
- mental clarity
- emotional state
- hot flushes
- body image and overall image of self
- body shape
- Appetite
Physical and Mental Aspects of Stress
Your physical and mental health are both critical to your overall well-being and vitality. If one is off-kilter, the other will be as well.
It is critical to understand how stress affects our entire bodily system and how these feelings persist long after the source of the stress has passed.
We must deal with the aftereffects, calm our nervous system, and move on with our lives.
Have you ever woken up in a bad mood and decided not to go for a morning walk? Or perhaps you’ve been experiencing anxiety and have had to cancel social engagements?
Sometimes it’s necessary to cancel plans in order to make room for healing. However, if you cancel them for an extended period of time, this can have a negative impact on your health.
It is critical to make space and time to reflect on why you are stressed. Writing down your thoughts in a non-judgmental manner is an excellent way to express yourself.
Social Interactions
Social connectedness is also beneficial to our overall health and well-being. Having a good social circle is an essential part of our lives, especially when we need to discuss something with a trusted loved one or friend.
The Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education states:
“People who feel more connected to others experience less anxiety and depression. According to studies, they also have higher self-esteem, more empathy for others, are more trusting and cooperative, and as a result, others are more willing to trust and cooperate with them. A positive feedback loop of social, emotional, and physical well-being is generated by social connectedness.”
Physical Exercise
Exercise is one of the most well-known methods for breaking the stress cycle. Exercising has been shown in studies to have a powerful and positive effect on our mental health and stress cycles.
“Adults who engage in regular physical activity have fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms, lending credence to the idea that exercise protects against the development of mental disorders.”
Other Stress-Relieving Techniques
There are numerous other things you can do to reduce the negative effects of stress. For example, you can:
- Be your own best friend by being compassionate and nurturing to yourself.
- Hug and pat your pet.
- Immerse yourself in nature by going for a walk in a park or on the beach, for example.
- Sing and dance along to your favorite song or music.
- Stitch, knit, paint, draw, write, bake, and meditate.
- Get a massage.
- Try deep breathing exercises.
Choose something that allows you to unwind and pass the time.
Stress and recovery are a balancing system of understanding your needs and then prioritizing what you know works for your mind and body.
