Ever since the age of industrial revolution, mankind is undergoing rapid progress in all the fields of life and also facing a rapid increase in the challenges of life complexities. Though all of us know that change is the only constant, most of us are not ready to accept change and adapt. Result is getting into the trap of anxiety-triggered stress. Stress can be termed as a person’s emotional and physical response to change. Stress, is a feeling that people have when they are overloaded and struggling to cope up with demands.
When it is Positive stress it is called “Eustress” and can be a motivator and improves performance. In contrast “Distress”, or negative stress can lead to mental and physical problems.
Stress slows down normal bodily functions. Mental stress activates sympathetic nervous system, signaling your body to go into “fight-or-flight” mode. The body produces larger quantities of cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These trigger an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, heightened muscle preparedness, sweating, and alertness.
Here are a few lifestyle choices you can take to manage or prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed. Regular Exercise; Reducing intake of alcohol, drugs, and caffeine
Thinking: “What you think you become”-Words of Buddha. We have within us, far more power than what we give ourselves credit for. Let go the negative thoughts and bitter past happenings and associations completely. Instead, be positive and focus thoughts repeatedly on what you want instead of what you don’t want.
Deep Breathing: Breathing is the most important physical functions our bodies perform. We do it about 20,000 times a day. And still, somehow, most of us get it wrong.
Our most critical source of energy is oxygen. It turns out that getting more oxygen — by simply changing the way we breathe — can facilitate healing from a startling number of serious conditions, including chronic pain, arterial fibrillation, asthma, digestive issues, depression, etc.
The secret is to return to a more natural pattern of respiration: Newborns come into the world breathing deeply, but as we age, stress can alter that pattern, and many of us start to breathe more shallowly. By adulthood, on average, we’re taking 15 to 20 breaths per minute; the ideal is 3-5 breaths per minute.
There are several types of deep breathing exercises, including diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing and paced respiration.
Laugh: It’s hard to feel anxious when you’re laughing. It’s good for your health, and there are a few ways it may help relieve stress:
● Relieving your stress response.
● Relieving tension by relaxing your muscles.
A study among people with cancer found that people in the laughter intervention group experienced more stress relief than those who were simply distracted. In the long term, laughter can also help improve your immune system and mood. Try watching a funny TV show or hanging out with friends who make you laugh.
Just breathe and laugh it off stress.
