A Familiar Friend Called, "Stress"

I have heard hundreds of stories about the ill effects of stress. I didn't pay much attention to it.

Well, all people suffer from stress at some point in their lives. Why care so much about it?

 

This was my way of thinking until I had my own encounter with stress.

 

It was towards the end of the 2nd semester.

I was in law school and there were just so many books to read. 

I remembered thumbing through my planner with almost all the days of the week filled in.

I had to push myself to finish all the readings and paperwork.

I barely slept and I didn't eat well. I was just so tired and exhausted.

It was like being at the edge of a cliff. I was barely coping with the demands of my studies and other extra-curricular activities.

I remembered having low-grade fevers  and diarrhea which I shoved off for a while.

A fewmonths later, I was diagnosed with Crohn's, an auto-immune disease. 

 

So what is the deal with stress?

 

Stress is not only a silent killer. It is associated with numerous ailments from heart disease to cancer.

Stress eats away our being and its effects can permeate the different aspects of our lives. 

So, how do we deal with stress?

There are many ways to deal with it but it is you who will eventually choose the most effective means to combat stress.

 

Here are some tips to combat stress:

 

1. Know when to take short breaks

Connect with your physical and mental being.

If you think you are sliding down from  the balance of life,

then perhaps it is time to take a short vacation. Don't push yourself to the edge of the cliff.

You might not be able to pull yourself back.

 

2. Eat right

Stress might cause some people to do stress-eating.

It can wreck havoc on your health.

Stuffing in junk and sugary food can lead to lower energy levels.

It might make you more exhausted and tired.

 

3. Exercise

Have you heard of happy hormones?

Exercise releases endorphins which make you feel happier.

Not only is exercise good for your health, it can brighten up your day too!

 

4. Identify your "happy habits"

What activities make you happy? Is it a good massage or a nice warm bath? Go for it!

Make sure that they are beneficial to your well-being and not destructive. 

 

5. Socialize

Talk to a family or a friend. A good conversation can  lighten up your mood.

Make sure you confide your burdens to someone you can trust or to someone who can encourage you.

You'll be surprised that sometimes you are actually in the same boat with that person. 

 

6. Pray

Having a short prayer or meditation early in the morning can help you gain balance in your spiritual health.

It helps you to have a sharper and clearer mind.

 

7. Sleep!

Maybe you didn't sleep well for a few days.

Maybe it is time to be under your cozy covers.

Nothing charges you better than a good sleep.

You'll immediately see the difference in your energy levels the moment you wake up.