Stress is no joke. While a little bit of stress is fine when facing a big presentation, chronic stress is a major problem.
That’s because nature intended the stress hormone cortisol to be used in small doses – say, when you’re running away from an angry mastodon. But when it hangs around all the time, as it does for many people in modern society, the results are grim: heightened chances of obesity, heart disease, cancer, insomnia, chest pain, and other nasty outcomes.
Plus … it’s just plain unpleasant, isn’t it? If you want to stop stress in its tracks, though, you’re not powerless. By making a bit of effort every single day, you can bring stress down to manageable levels pretty quickly. Here’s how.
Studies show a huge range ofbenefits stemming frommeditation, including areduction in the size of theamygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear and stress. Want to keep anxiety in its place? Meditate.
Exercising does more than make you sweat … although that’s nice too. It also producesendorphins, which are your body’snatural euphoria-inducers andpainkillers. Even if you can’t get in a hard workout, try walking around the block a few times at lunch.
Yep, it’s not just a feeling you get: Music really does chill you out. In fact,studies show that even when you listen to music and don’t feel more relaxed,tunes still help tomoderate your cortisol levels beneath the surface.
And lastly, you need todecompress as often as possible. This can take many forms, from a hot bath to warm compresses to a foam roller torelease tension in tired shoulders and backs. Other forms ofrecreation alsohelp like reading,cooking, spending time withfriends andfamily. Just avoid stress reducers that cause more stress in the long run, such as engaging in addictive behavior (more common than you think) or spending money you don’t have.
Humans need other humans to feel safe, secure, and happy – and to avoid feeling stressed out. Isolation, see, is highly nerve-wracking.
When you begin to feel anxious, reach out to the people in your life. Go for a walk with a spouse, talk to a friend on the phone, or get lunch with your mom. A simple break with a coworker may be enough to calm you down in moments of extreme stress.
Stress also affects your thyroid and can trigger adrenal fatigue making it hard for you to lose weight, keep your metabolism up, sleep at night, feel fully rested or make the right dietary decisions. Unfortunately, slugging metabolisms, poor diets, and too little sleep are all causes of stress – you can see the vicious cycle here. It is important that you pay close attention to the amount of stress you're getting and start thinking of ways how to deal with stress.
Brain Support
