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Stressed Out?

What is stress and how harmful is stress to your body? Stress is a condition that is related to a person’s reaction to factors that are physical, emotional, environmental and chemical. Stress is everywhere and it is impacting every gender, ethnic and socioeconomic status class.

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Common signs and symptoms of stress:

  1. Anxiety
  2. Insomnia
  3. Headaches
  4. Upset Stomach
  5. Fatigue / Low Energy
  6. feeling overwhelmed
  7. Frequent colds and Infections
  8. Aches, pains, and tense muscles
  9. Chest pain and rapid heart beat
  10. moodiness, anger, irritability

10 Ways to Cope with Stress:

  1. Look for ways to avoid stress.
  2. Give yourself permission to take back some time for yourself.
  3. When some things are beyond your control. Look at the things that cause you stress. If you can't change them, try to stop worrying about them.
  4. Make time for joy in your life.
  5. Do some exercise that you like (dancing, swimming, jogging, shopping).
  6. Take a warm, scented bath. Put on some soothing music, close your eyes and let yourself relax.
  7. Perfectionism can be a major source of stress, so ease up on yourself. 
  8. Beware of unhealthy quick fixes. Drinking too much, smoking or overeating won't make things better and may make you feel worse in the long run.
  9. Focus on healthy meals and getting enough rest.
  10. Talk to trusted friends or find a support group. It may not change the situation, but expressing your feelings can help you feel better. If you're overwhelmed, get professional help.