What is stress?
Stress is basically your brain’s response to a demand. Although it is usually referred to from a negative context, stress can be both positive and negative. It is a normal and unavoidable part of life. Stress can come about due to minor situations like being late for work or getting sick, or it can happen after a major life circumstance such as having a baby or ending a marriage.
What are the signs and symptoms of stress?
Stress affects your health from a number of directions. Your physical, mental, and behavioral functioning is influenced by stress. Symptoms of stress may include:
- Feeling fatigued
- Experiencing chest pain or muscle aches
- Being unable to sleep
- Having changes in your appetite or sex drive
- Getting headaches
- Feeling anxious or depressed
- Having a lack of motivation
- Being angry or irritable
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Using alcohol or drugs
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your life for a prolonged period of time, you are likely stressed and need a healthy and natural way to manage it.
Who is susceptible to stress?
Virtually everyone alive will get stressed at some point. Unfortunately, there are some factors that can increase or decrease your ability to effectively handle stress. These may include the lifestyle that you lead such as diet and exercise, your support system, the type of experiences you had as a child, your family history, and your emotional intelligence.
How can I manage my stress?
Stress management starts with awareness of your stress triggers. Once you become aware of what’s causing you stress, you can develop a plan of action to reduce the impact. Sharon enjoys working with her patients to create routines that include stress management activities that you can do at home or in the clinic.
At home, you can try guided imagery, meditation, deep breathing, music, and progressive muscle relaxation to minimize the effects of stress. In the clinic, Sharon helps her patients relieve stress through massage, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional counseling. Contact the clinic today to make an appointment so that you can start fighting back against stress.
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