An intense topic of discussion nowadays is stress.

Nobody wants to be stressed out, but it is a part of our human existence.  One definition of stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.  Another is subject to pressure or tension.

 

Not all stress is bad.

However, not all stress is bad.  Stress is a survival mechanism.  When you are in danger, the stress response of fight or flight kicks in.  This response causes the sympathetic nervous system to stimulate the adrenal glands.  The adrenal glands release hormones like adrenaline which increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.  The eyes dilate, digestion slows and muscles tense to prepare for you to stay and fight or run away.

There are no tigers hiding outside the village as we gather firewood, which historically is what the defensive system was designed for.  These same hormones kick in when an athlete steps on a field, court, or course.  Speaking to an audience or going for a job interview can also cause stress.  What should happen, though, is quickly after the intense situation has ended, the body should recalibrate and return to normal.

Herein lies the problem.  In the present age, traffic, emails, relationships, jobs, and world news, and the constant fast pace of this information-driven world create an environment for constant stress.  Over time, this type of strain on the body can contribute to making you emotionally and physically ill.

Since 1992, April has been Stress Awareness Month.

And May is Mental Health Awareness The goal is to help people manage stress in healthy ways.

The acronym, RADIANT, can be used to be healthy and whole.  They can be part of your strategy to manage stress:

  1. Rest – Get plenty of sleep, take breaks, or time outs, and take your vacations
  2. Activity Awareness – be mindful of what you do. Attitude has so much to do with how you handle situations.  Being around supportive family and friends, as well as seeking help from health care professionals instead of coping in destructive ways
  3. Diet – it matters what you eat. Eating nutritionally dense foods can affect how you think and feel physically and emotionally
  4. Introspection – Meditate to learn to quiet the mind and learn to focus on thoughts of gratitude
  5. Agua – Hydration affects hormone levels so they can lower stress levels
  6. Note Taking – Journaling can be very healing. One example is to have a gratitude journal.  With a gratitude journal, you can record things you are grateful for that have already happened, and you can also record things you are grateful for before it happens
  7. Training – Regular moderate exercise can help you to manage stress levels.