We all face stressful situations and experience stress from time to time since it is an essential part of the emotional ups and downs of life. Stress is a normal reaction to many situations, and it has lots of sources. Whether it comes from our environment, from our bodies, or even our thoughts, stress makes us tense and affects how we live. Since we are physiologically designed to deal with stress, it is normal to feel that way around moments of pressure. However, modern people experience much more stress than people who lived years ago, and there are many reasons for this.
That is because we live in a digital world where everything constantly changes. For example, COVID-19 has become a tricky time for most people, and restrictions only worsen the situation. People got fired, the war started, people lost their homes, had to relocate, and lots of changes happened in the world. As a result, stress levels are getting higher, and it becomes a chronic condition that is hard to handle.
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What Happens in the Body When We are Stressed?
Knowing how our bodies react to stress can help us learn the best way to handle it. When we experience stress or feel under pressure, our nervous system tells the body to release stress hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. These hormones produce physiological changes that help us fight the threat or danger we feel or see. This is the process known as “stress response”, sometimes called “fight-or-flight” response.
Not everyone knows that stress can also be positive since this process helps us stay alert, motivated and focused on the tasks we have to handle. When the pressure starts to normalise, we usually rebalance and start to feel calm. But when stress in our bodies starts to become too high or chronic, problems will arise. Continuous activation of the nervous system that starts the “stress response” can cause many health issues that require years to treat.
In addition, the respiratory system is also involved in the stress-relief process and is affected whenever we stress. If you didn’t notice, when we experience stress, we tend to breathe harder and more often as our bodies want to distribute oxygen-rich blood around them.
Is Stress Useful or Harmful?
Our bodies are designed the way that we react to stress as a means of survival skills. This hormonal response keeps us focused and instigates a response that helps fight danger. In these cases, stress helps us prevent dangerous situations and protect our well-being.
However, chronic stress that we experience on a daily basis as a result of challenges without relief from relaxation will be harmful. This negative stress reaction is known as distress. When we are in distress, the stressful condition of our body does not return to homeostasis, which can cause long-term changes in the heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. In addition, the use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs as a way to quickly calm down and relieve stress can only further damage the body’s response.
How to Better Handle Stress?
Visualise Yourself Doing What You Love
When we picture how we engage in an activity, our brain doesn’t have time to distinguish between what we imagine and what is actually happening. Visualisation is one of the best ways to cope with stress, and it can work in a number of ways, starting with the simple fact that we shift our focus to less stressful and happier situations. In addition, imagining something that we like and how we do things we love can help us settle down in a relaxed state, reducing both mental and physical tension.
CBD Supplements
CBD, scientifically called cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in cannabis. Thanks to the potential benefits of CBD, it is usually added to a vast range of supplements designed for better sleep and relaxation. You can choose the best supplements based on your needs, but the most popular types of them are flavoured CBD tinctures, easy-to-swallow CBD capsules and tasty CBD gummies.
Being safe and non-addictive, CBD is believed to work with the inner endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for vital bodily functions like sleep, appetite and metabolism. When CBD enters the body, it can help to address anxiety and improve sleep quality, among other positive effects.
Mini-Meditation is Quick and Relaxing
Meditation is a long process that takes months to finally achieve homeostasis and keep it for years ahead. While normal meditation has a duration of 15-20 minutes, mini-meditations can last up to 5-10 minutes, depending on how much time you need. Even if you don’t like meditation, it can be highly useful at times when we need a quick way to relax. Mini-meditation aims to quickly minimise the body’s stress response and immediately relax the body and mind.
Burn off Some Steam
Scientists say that exercises are an excellent way to reduce stress. Even though some may think that they need to do a 1-hour workout, any kind of physical activity will be great. It could be a quick walk, running, yoga, lifting weights, as well as playing sports are all great ways to get rid of racing thoughts and release the happy hormones that will help us calm down and relax. Exercise decreases stress hormones and releases endorphins, well-known as the body’s “feel-good chemicals.”
Customise Your Go-to Stress Release
It is worth noting that you should always customise your response to stress since every person reacts to stress in their own way. Try some tips and then explore how they work for you. We recommend you experiment with different activities and create a process that will suit you best.
Final Thoughts
Stress is a normal reaction to some situations. Even though it could be positive, when it becomes chronic, it can lead to health issues. That is why it is best to know how the body physically reacts to stress and how to better cope with it to prevent its harmful effects. if you still feel more stress its better to consult best psychiatrist near you
