Stress is a normal part of everyone’s life. However, we mustn’t get caught up in it. There are multiple ways to identify and deal with stress! This article is here to help you identify how you’re feeling, as there are a few different ways, such as physical, emotional, and behavioral stress. If you have questions or are dealing with stress, we are here to help!
Firstly, you can identify your stress in a physical sense because you might feel “Tiredness or fatigue… nausea or dizziness, and heightened alertness or energy,” as stated in Stress Management by UC Berkeley. These feelings might distract you from doing what you need to do in your daily life! Some ways you can help yourself deal with physical tiredness are getting a good 8–10 hours of sleep, because it helps uplift your mood, keep you focused, and helps you with your memory.
Stable and filling meals can also play a major role, as the Hydrocephalus Association states, “Maintaining high energy levels throughout the day can be challenging, especially with a busy schedule. The food you eat plays a crucial role in fueling your body to stay active, focused, and energized.”
Hydrocephalus Association also says that eating food like lentils, beans, meat or tofu, nuts, or berries can keep your blood sugar levels stable, prevent energy crashes, and maintain a steady stream of stamina throughout your day while giving your active body the nutrients it needs. Along with that, another way you can know if you’re stressed emotionally and/or behaviorally is if you feel anxious, fearful, lonely, or helpless and feel on edge. These feelings can cause ‘brain fog’ and disturb your thoughts, feelings, and actions towards yourself and others around you.
MedlinePlus says this: “Finding balance between positive and negative emotions. Staying positive doesn’t mean that you never feel negative emotions, such as sadness or anger. These emotions can help you deal with problems. But you don’t want those emotions to take over. For example, it’s not helpful to dwell on bad memories or worry too much about the future.”
Having a positive outlook on your life and remembering the good things that happen around you is important!
Additionally, you can manage stress by taking steps to address and solve how you’re feeling. There are many ways, such as journaling, changing your perspective, or just taking a walk here and there, along with calling someone or hanging out with loved ones. Connecting with the people around you is a great way to let go of the loneliness and laugh freely with them.
The Mental Health Foundation tells us this, ¨Friendship is a crucial element in protecting our mental health. Our friends can keep us grounded, help us get things into perspective, and help us manage life’s problems.¨
To conclude, stress is common and happens to everyone around us, whether young or old, content or frustrated, or for us McLean students. Remember to take care of yourself physically and mentally, eat nutritious meals, and connect with the people around you, or just take a walk outside.
We sourced this article from:
https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-promotion/health-topics/stress
https://www.hydroassoc.org/stop-feeling-tired-power-foods-boost-energy/
https://www.medlineplus.gov/howtoimprovementalhealth.html
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/friendship-and-mental-health
