Stress

Feeling stressed is part of being human. As we interact and engage with our environment, our minds and bodies are constantly assessing the risks we face in our jobs, our families, and even social events.

Some stress (known as eustress) has a positive effect, helping us to overcome challenging situations. These situations become opportunities to master something, grow mentally and even build our resilience. This type of stress is beneficial.

Distress (or “negative” stress) is more problematic – especially if we feel continually threatened, challenged or out of control. This can lead to poor health outcomes.

Knowing where you are in this balance will help you decide whether your stress is getting the better of you.

Warning Signs that You’re on the Wrong Side of Stress

We often overlook the simple signs that we’re not dealing with stress well. Some of these red flags include:

1. Sleep problems: trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep. or not feeling well rested;
2. A change in your diet – for example, allowing cravings for sweet, salty or fatty foods to get the better of you;
3. Feeling irritable or short-tempered;
4. Getting colds or other infections more often;
5. Memory issues or trouble concentrating;
6. Increased anxiety, helplessness or feelings of depression;
7. Increased heart rate or blood pressure; and
8. Gut problems or digestive issues.

Any one of these signs suggests that your stress levels may be unhealthy and could escalate into something more difficult to manage.

How Stress Contributes to Illness

Stress wears your body down, eventually to the point of exhaustion. When your body can no longer keep up with the never-ending stress cycle, essential systems, organs and cells are compromised. This is when you’re most likely to develop illness and chronic disease.

These issues include:

1. Headaches and migraines;
2. Rheumatic arthritis and other joint and pain issues;
3. Diabetes;
4. High blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues;
5. Menstrual problems;
6. Cancers;
7. Weakened immune system response;
8. Gastrointestinal disorders;
9. Skin problems, such as eczema and psoriasis;
10. Chronic sleep issues;
11. Weight issues; and
12. Unhealthy behaviours, including drug and alcohol abuse.

Managing Stress

You can’t eliminate stress from your life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t manage it. And there is no shortage of ways to do this.

Some of the things you can do are obvious, like improving your diet, exercising more, cutting out harmful substances, getting enough sleep or doing more things that bring you joy. But there are less obvious options. For example:

1. Learn to set better boundaries. That might mean saying “no” to things you find stressful or people who bring you down.
2. Manage your day more consciously. Are you spending too much time on social media? Could you use a little more structure?
3. Ask for help. If you’re spending a lot of time with an elderly parent, maybe another family member can share the load.
4. Re-evaluate your goals. Maybe you’re trying to accomplish too much too fast. Slowing down a bit could give you some much-needed relief.
5. Get some outside help, whether that’s for practical things or dealing with your emotions.