Understanding Stress
Our stress levels can fluctuate greatly throughout the day.
Sometimes we feel very peaceful and calm like a still lake.
At other times, our stress levels can soar, making that still
water become very choppy.
The stress response is something every human being
experiences. There are many things that can happen to us
throughout the day that can activate the stress response.
Homework, tests, arguments, worries, traffic, and pressure
can all set off the stress response.
When we become stressed, our body releases hormones, our muscles tense up, our
breathing speeds up, our body starts sweating, our heart beats faster, and our mind
doesn’t seem to be able to think clearly. We begin to feel emotions like anger or fear. It
can be pretty unpleasant.
When we activate this stress response repeatedly, it can take a toll on our physical and
mental health. Chronic stress can make you feel very tired, or it can make you lose sleep.
You may have an upset stomach or a headache. You may feel anxious or depressed.
Studies show that chronic stress can even hurt your immune system, increasing your
chances of getting sick.
So what can we do? It would be very hard to get rid of everything in your life that causes
you stress. It is unlikely that your teachers are going to stop giving you homework or
tests. People are sometimes going to say or do things that bother you. Many of the things
that cause us stress are out of our control, but what we can control is our response to
those stressors and some techniques to make us more resilient against stress.
Top 10 Ways to Lower Your Stress and Develop the Relaxation Response
v Understand that the emotions you feel are temporary. They are like waves in the
ocean. They ALWAYS come down. Just ride the waves and don’t get swept under.
Let yourself feel that emotion, but don’t feel as if you have to act on it. Try not to
react to stressful situations with emotionally charged words or actions. Let the
emotion die down before you decide what to say or do.
v Get your rest. It is much easier for our stress response to be activated when we do
not get enough sleep. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day.
v Eat a healthy diet. When we are hungry, we can easily become stressed. Your body
needs proper fuel to maintain the energy it needs throughout the day. Try to avoid
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