Have you ever felt like easy tasks are now harder to complete? Do you feel overwhelmed? Have you become more forgetful than usual? If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be experiencing stress. April is Stress Awareness Month. According to the Cleveland Clinic (n.d.), stress is experienced by everyone and is usually caused by a challenge or demand. Our body experiences a “fight-or flight response” to help us to deal with our stress. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (n.d.), stress can cause disbelief, frustration, anger, headaches, concentration issues, and trouble sleeping.
Our mental health is important and some people have a hard time coping with stress. Some people might avoid everyday activities or friends and family, over or under eat, sleep too much, or use drugs and alcohol (Harvard Medical School, 2012). However, not all stress is bad. Some stress can help motivate people, build confidence, or create bonds with others (Selna, 2018). There are healthy ways to handle stress like healthy eating, exercise, getting enough sleep, meditation, and talking to someone like a family member, friend, or therapist (CDC, n.d.).
Many of us are busy and we juggle multiple responsibilities. If you’re like me, you have a variety of roles including employee, mom, student, and intern. It can be hard to keep track of everything. My new planner is helpful to me. It helps to keep track of all of my personal events and activities as well as all of my assignments. It includes a “to do” list that helps me to keep track of any tasks I need to complete. Stress can make anyone feel like they want to give up. Give yourself a break. Make sure to cope by making healthy decisions for yourself. Self-care is not selfish.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Coping with stress. Retrieved April 05, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/copingwith-stresstips.html
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Stress. Retrieved April 05, 2022 from
Harvard Medical School. (2012, August 04). Watch out for unhealthy responses to stress. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/watch-out-for-unhealthy-responses-to-stress
Selna, E. (2018, November 20). How some stress can actually be good for you. Time. https://time.com/5434826/stress-good-health/