Stress Awareness Month has been recognized every April since 1992. Learning to cope with our stress and finding healthy ways to deal with our circumstances can help augment our lives' positive outcomes; decreasing our stress is essential!
The CDC defines stress as a reaction to a situation where a person feels threatened or anxious. Common reactions to a stressful event can include:
disbelief, shock, and numbness
feeling sad, frustrated, and helpless
difficulty concentrating and making decisions
headaches, back pains, and stomach problems
smoking or use of alcohol or drugs
The CDC suggests that learning healthy ways to cope and getting the proper care and support can help reduce stressful feelings and symptoms.
Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and give yourself a break if you feel stressed out.
Talk to others. Share your problems and how you are feeling and coping with a parent, friend, counselor, doctor, or pastor.
Avoid drugs and alcohol. These may seem to help, but they can create additional problems and increase the stress you are already feeling.
Take a break. If news events are causing your stress, take a break from listening or watching the news.
Recognize when you need more help. If problems continue or you are thinking about suicide, talk to a psychologist, social worker, or professional counselor.
If you are a family caregiver who feels stressed by the weight of responsibility in caring for a senior loved one, know that you do not need to be alone on your journey. At Home Senior Care is here to help! Visit athomeseniors.net.