HomeHealth articlesstressHow to Deal with Stress?

Let's Fight Back Stress

Verified dataVerified data
0
Let's Fight Back Stress

3 min read

Share

Stress is our body's response to any kind of demand or threat. In today's time, most of us have some form of chronic stress, which is harmful.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Sowmiya D

Published At January 5, 2019
Reviewed AtAugust 4, 2023

What Is Stress?

Stress is our body’s way of responding to any kind of demanding or threatful situation. During stress, certain hormones and chemicals get released in the body, which affects all the organs of the body and prepares us to fight back the demand. But, as we know, an excess of anything is bad.

What Happens in Stress?

In stress, certain hormones and chemicals get released in the blood which affects all the organs of our body. The heart beats faster and pumps more blood, the blood glucose levels increase, the whole body receives more blood and glucose, the brain vessels dilate and the person feels a throbbing headache, the lungs dilate and the person starts breathing faster and a feeling of suffocation occurs.

What Are the Types Of Stress?

There are two types of stress:

1. Constructive Stress (Eustress): Stress is not always bad. Constructive stress can help you stay focused, energetic, and motivate you to do your best. It improves your concentration during a presentation, examinations, interviews or alerts you and makes you do best as per your abilities.

2. Destructive Stress (Distress): On the other hand, destructive or excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and performance, impact your physical, psychological and emotional health, and affect your relationships and career.

Why Do We need to Manage Stress?

Chronic stress has a negative impact on both the mind and body. It can lead to serious physical health problems like heart diseases, increased blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, migraine, gastric ulcers, and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, insomnia, overeating, sexual problems, irritability, increased smoking, and alcoholism, etc.

What Are the Ways to Manage Stress?

So let us discuss some stress management techniques.

Tips to Deal with Stress:

1) Exercise:

Make time for regular exercise. One feels his/her mood elevate and gets good relief from stress after playing a good match, or running or jogging for some time. Any rhythmic movement such as walking, running, dancing, etc., should be done for at least 30 minutes a day. Physical activity increases certain chemicals and hormones in the blood and brain which helps lift our mood and combat stress.

2) Socialization:

Socialization is very important for proper mental health. We, humans, are social animals and we need people around us with whom we can connect, share our feelings, and take support. Having good friends around you makes you happy and content. So, try to build good social contacts, do not indulge too much on the internet or invest time in making virtual friends online.

3) Engage Your Senses:

Another quick way to relieve stress is by engaging one or more of your senses - sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, or movement.

You could do some gardening, listen to sounds of flowing water from an indoor fountain, light aroma candles, take a warm bath, or dance to some peppy music. These are just some ideas, there is more you could try.

4) Relax Your Mind:

Learn relaxation techniques such as:

When practiced regularly, these activities can reduce your everyday stress levels and boost feelings of joy and serenity. They also increase your ability to stay calm.

5) Diet:

  • Focus on eating small, frequent and healthy meals. Include lots of vegetables and fruits in your daily diet.
  • Reduce sugar, sweets, and high-carbohydrate foods.
  • Restrict alcohol on a regular basis.

6) Sleep:

  • Decreasing sleep interferes with your daytime productivity, creativity, problem-solving skills, and ability to focus.
  • Try to sleep for eight hours at night.
  • Turn off your phone, laptop, television, and other gadgets one hour before bedtime. The light emitted from these gadgets suppresses your body's production of melatonin and disturb your sleep.
  • Avoid stimulating activity and stressful situations before bedtime. Instead, focus on quiet, soothing activities such as reading or listening to soft music while keeping the lights dim.

Conclusion:

Identifying unique indicators of the body's stress reactions and acquiring the ability to react to these cues using novel approaches can contribute to the development of emotional, cognitive, and physical fortitude that constitutes resilience. This resilience, in turn, equips you to effectively address forthcoming stressors. Let us implement these techniques in day-to-day life and prevent the harmful effects of stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Can Help a Person With Stress?

It is vital to help someone who is stressed by saying things that make them feel assured. In addition, try to figure out factors or situations that make them feel stressed and keep the person away from them. The most important is to listen to their problems first. Let them cry for a while and give them some lonely time to relax.

2.

What Causes Stress?

Stress may occur due to various reasons, as follows:
- Chronic illness.
- Grief.
- Sudden loss of a loved thing or person.
- Other emotional issues.
- Victim of any disaster or accident.
- Physical or mental abuse.

3.

What Signs Indicate Stress?

The classic signs of stress include:
- Anger.
- Nervousness.
- Loss of interest in everything.
- Looks worried always.
- Feeling lonely.
- Irritated.

4.

How to Calm Down Someone?

The ways to calm down a person under stress are:
- To make them feel safe and secure.
- Instead of giving advice, do things that make them feel happy.
- Do not force them not to cry; it is better to cry for some time.
- Tell them that everything will be fine soon.

5.

Why Does Stress Occur Without Any Reason?

Stress is the body’s reaction to situations or events disturbing you mentally. It may also occur without any underlying cause or reason. But, if the period of stress prolongs or does not decrease at all, it is considered an illness. It is important to relax and get enough sleep to prevent unnecessary stress.

6.

What Are the Methods to Quiet a Stressful Mind?

The following methods help in managing a stressful mind:
- Follow your hobbies.
- Exercise every day.
- Do meditation or yoga that relaxes your mind.
- Have a good amount of sleep.
- Eat healthy foods.

7.

Why Is It So Hard to Stop Stressing?

Stress is an emotional response by the body to certain situations. It is sometimes uncontrollable, and it becomes difficult to overcome it. Some individuals have negative beliefs that lead to stress, and it is hard to bring them out of it. It depends on one’s perseverance and positive attitude that will aid in removing stress.

8.

When Is Stress Considered Too Much?

Some may not even know that they are over-stressing over a particular event. However, when it is too much or chronic, the body starts showing the following signs:
- Changes in bowel movements.
- Headache.
- Stiffness in the jaw.
- Pain or discomfort in muscles, chest, etc.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Sexual problems.

9.

What Can Provide Comfort From a Stressed Text?

Most of us worry or fall apart when we get a stressed text from a close person. However, finding ways to comfort and motivate them is crucial. Ensure you are always there with them to help them in any situation or problem. Ask them to take a break from everything that stresses them out. Finally, find a way to help them.

10.

Do Stress Last Long?

Mostly, stress does not last forever; they are short-term. Rarely, due to false hopes or other reasons, it may last longer. The body may be unable to manage the chronic stress and begin showing warning signs that the stress is too much. Due to overstress, symptoms like diarrhea, anxiety, headache, and increased heart rate may develop. Therefore, in case of chronic stress, it is vital to meet the specialist immediately to prevent complications.

11.

Can Crying Help With Stress?

Many tend to cry aloud due to stress, and most think it may worsen the situation. But the fact is that crying may help alleviate the bad mood. It also aids in reducing stress hormone levels in the body, and the person feels relaxed and relieved after crying. In addition, crying allows your body to fight against stressful situations, thus improving the function of the immune system.

12.

Does Stress Lead To Sickness?

Not all stress makes one fall sick. When the stress last longer, it may disturb sleep, cause digestive issues, and affects all other body systems. Stress, in turn, degrades the body’s immune system to fight against infection. Therefore, the individual with chronic stress may have a weakened immune system, be prone to infections or diseases, and fall sick easily.

13.

What Does Personal Stress Mean?

When an individual is unable to control the consequences of personal situations, then he or she may feel stressed out. Especially in cases like losing loved ones, or traumatic events, separation from family leads to personal stress. Taking a break from regular activities, finding ways to enhance both physical and mental well-being, and taking support from mental health organizations significantly help in managing personal stress.

14.

Does Stress Fall Under Mental Illness?

Stress does not fall under mental illness, and it is also not a mental illness. It is basically the body’s response to a specific situation, and it does help the body in fighting against those situations. However, if a person is overstressed or if it is chronic, then it may gradually lead to mental illness like anxiety, depression, etc.

15.

What Can Be Done to Calm Down?

The are several ways and methods to calm down during stress:
- Breathing exercises are considered the most effective among them.
- Listen to music that soothes you.
- Do activities that make you happy.
- Talk to your friends.
- Keep yourself active.
Source Article IclonSourcesSource Article Arrow
Dr. Vandana Patidar
Dr. Vandana Patidar

Psychiatry

Tags:

stressrelaxation techniquesstress management
Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Source Article ArrowMost popular articles

Do you have a question on

stress

Ask a doctor online

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy