Coping Well With the Effects of Stress

Our bodies are well-designed to cope with difficult situations. However, when put under enough strain, our bodies will start to display signs of breakdown. Stress is how our bodies react to a challenging or threatening situation. In small amounts, stress can be a good thing, because it helps us push beyond our limits. However, suffering the effects of stress often or without finding relief can affect your well-being.

Some common causes of stress

There are many different kinds of challenging, threatening, or demanding situations that we can face in daily life. Experiencing change can also be a cause of stress, which is our body’s natural reaction to these situations. Below are some of the more common causes of stress:

Work-related issues

These include working long hours, working at a demanding job with a heavy workload, experiencing job insecurity, or having conflicts with colleagues or superiors. If you’re a student, a heavy course load, and facing exams or assignment deadlines might be a cause of stress.

Parenting and family responsibilities

Keeping a healthy work-life balance can be stressful, as can caring for dependents and managing various family conflicts.

Financial problems

Challenges and financial pressures such as debt, financial insecurity, or a lack of savings can all cause stress.

Relationship issues

Having conflict with a partner, family members, or friends, can be a source of stress. Similarly, feeling isolated or unsupported can also be stressful.

Health concerns

Experiencing chronic illness or pain, as well as a fear of illness or death, can all result in stress. If you or a family member receive a serious health diagnosis, that, too, can cause stress.

Experiencing major life changes

Changes such as moving, changing jobs or your career trajectory, divorce, grief, or other significant life transitions can all result in stress.

Social media, news, and technology

Being connected all the time to the happenings in the world can cause issues. A life where you’re bombarded by constant social media engagements, notifications, and the pressure to be constantly connected can be a stressful one. Societal expectations and pressure around social media presence can also add angst and stress to your life.

Trauma and past experiences

Past experiences of abuse, neglect, or trauma can cause stress and anxiety.

A lack of control or autonomy

If you feel as though you’re trapped or powerless in your life or situation, that can cause stress. Alongside this, experiencing fear and uncertainty about the future can be a source of stress.

Perfectionism

Setting unrealistically high standards for yourself, in whatever area of life, and feeling like you’re not meeting them, can cause stress in your life.

People experience stress differently, and something that causes stress for one person may not be stressful for someone else.

The effects of stress

Stress is a physiological response to something that feels threatening or challenging. It can affect your body and mind. Have you ever noticed that when you’re under a tight deadline, you can feel energized to push until you get across the line? At other times, stress can make it hard for you to concentrate and get even simple tasks done. The effects of stress can thus be beneficial, but can also be detrimental to a person’s well-being.

Stress can affect you physically, including leaving you with headaches, muscle tension, stomach problems, sleep disturbances, and a weakened immune system. It can worsen existing issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, and it can cause or worsen stomach ulcers and acid reflux. Stress increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. In addition, skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis can also worsen with stress.

When you’re stressed, it makes you more irritable, anxious, and prone to feelings of hopelessness. Your concentration and other faculties like your memory and ability to make decisions can be affected. Stress can also impact your immune system by weakening it, which makes it easier to get sick. These are some of the effects of stress, and why it’s important to bring stress under control.

How to cope well with the effects of stress

Stress should be dealt with before it leads to negative outcomes like burnout. Being able to cope well with stress requires a combination of self-care, stress management techniques, and cultivating a support network. Everyone experiences stress differently, and what works for you in relieving stress will differ from what works for someone else. Try out a few of the following techniques to see what brings you relief.

Recognize and acknowledge your stress

Learn to identify your stressors and acknowledge what you’re experiencing.

Take self-care seriously

This includes exercising regularly to improve your mood and reduce stress hormones (cortisol) in your system. It also means getting enough sleep every night, eating a balanced diet, being creative, as well as, taking breaks, and making time to enjoy things that relax you and make you happy.

Get organized

Managing your time effectively, prioritizing tasks, setting boundaries, and saying “no” to avoid becoming overcommitted can help you complete your tasks and avoid stress. You can also use mindfulness techniques to be present and focused, as well as to reduce anxiety and stress.

Practice gratitude and self-compassion

Give thanks for various things in your life, and treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and patience.

Seek support

Connect with friends, family, or a therapist for emotional support. If stress negatively impacts your daily functioning, consider seeking help from a mental health professional like a counselor.

Reaching out for help

If stress is overwhelming your life and impacting your physical and emotional health as well as your relationships, it’s time to seek professional help. Reach out to our offices today and we will set up an appointment for you with a qualified therapist. They will walk with you through techniques to cope as well as deeper issues that may drive your stress. Start your journey toward joy and peace today.