Stress is unavoidable, we all experience it.
The extent to which each person experiences and copes with stress is different. Stress can be debilitating and when left unchecked, can lead to chronic health conditions. Chronic stress can lead to:
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Changes in Social Behavior
- Emotional Withdrawal
- Low Energy
Chronic stress has been found to increase risks of:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hypertension
- Heart Attack
- Digestive Complaints
Stress Awareness Month is your annual reminder to pay attention to your health, identify the root cause of an issue, and actively work toward a permanent solution. During the month of April, take the opportunity to dive deeper into your health by learning about natural ways to manage your stress. Here are 5 natural ways for you to cope with stress:
- Journaling can help manage anxiety, reduce stress, track symptoms, improve your mood, and prioritize problems. Keeping a journal is a great way to deal with overwhelming emotions and find a healthy way to express yourself.
- Time with animals can offer companionship, support, and love. Research has proven that pets can be beneficial to people with mental health issues, including anxiety. When you interact with your pet, both parties release oxytocin which is a hormone that is linked to a positive emotional state. Having a pet keeps you active, gives you purpose, and reduces levels of loneliness.
- Supplementation is a natural way to cope with stress. Anytime Fitness Lake Murray sells a Sleep Multiplier product which will assist you in getting proper recovery sleep, which is important for stress management.
- Exercise is another natural way to cope with stress. Working out your stress in the gym, on the court, in the pool or on the street through planned physical activity is not only a way to decrease your stress but increase your cardiac health, immune health and decrease body weight.
- Prayer is my favorite coping mechanism. I find when I am anxious about something, if I just simply pray about it and then turn it over to God, I feel immediate relief and peace.
One final note. Did you know that anxiety and excitement share the same emotional makeup? Since I’ve learned this, I’ve taken a moment when I feel anxious and thought about why I am anxious. If I’ve done everything I can to control the outcome, prayed about it and turned it over, I change the outlook for my anxiety. I get excited about the outcome because I know it is going to turn out the way God intended. I can only control the things within my control. I must leave the rest up to God.
Try this the next time you feel anxious. If you’ve done everything you can to control the outcome…pray, turn it over…turn your anxiety into excitement as you wait for God to work in your life. If you have not done everything you can do to control the outcome…start there.
Radley West 