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Stress is a very serious thing, because it can kill you. Stressing over things can cause all kinds of health issues. "There are a number of ways chronic stress can kill you," says Aldwin. That includes increased levels of cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels interfere with learning and memory, lower immune function and bone density, and increase blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease.

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992 to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. Despite this running for 20 years we have got a long way to go. According to the Mental health Foundation 74% of adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Millions of us around the world are experiencing high levels of stress and it is damaging our health. Stress is one of the great public health challenges of our time, but it still isn’t being taken as seriously as physical health concerns. Stress is a significant factor in mental health problems including anxiety and depression. It is also linked to physical health problems like heart disease, problems with our immune system, insomnia and digestive problems. Individually we need to understand what is causing us personal stress and learn what steps we can take to reduce it for ourselves and those around us.

That is why this Stress Awareness Month we are going to bring you a series of blogs, newsletters and campaigns around coping with stress.

What can you do for Stress?

• Talk about Stress and it’s effects – Talk about the topic openly and freely with friends, family and colleagues.
• Share your coping mechanisms – if something has worked for you why not share it. It might benefit someone you care about and in the meantime it might help you take your focus off your own challenges.
• Be nice to those who are stressed and anxious – we are all undoubtedly going to experience stress and anxiety in our lifetime so treat others going through wit with compassion and empathy.
• Look after yourself – we all need to think more about self –care. Take time out of your day to relax or do something that you enjoy. Don’t forget to exercise and eat well, even when you feel too stressed.

The most crucial thing you can do when you are stressed or anxious is to make sure you are continuing to look after yourself. Make time to relax when you need to and learn to say no to requests that are too much for you.

Let's dig deep... What exactly is stress?

Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. When you sense danger—whether it's real or imagined—the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction or the “stress response.” The stress response is the body's way of protecting you. 

Stress is a process, not a diagnosis. ... When the term 'stress' is used in a clinical sense, it refers to a situation that causes discomfort and distress for a person and can lead to other mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. Stress may also contribute to physical illness such as cardiovascular disease.

Here are some examples of life's stresses...

Examples of life stresses are:

• The death of a loved one.
• Divorce.
• Loss of a job.
• Increase in financial obligations.
• Getting married.
• Moving to a new home.
• Chronic illness or injury.
• Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem)

According to American Psychological Association (APA), there are 3 different types stress — acute stress, episodic acute stress, and chronic stress. The 3 types of stress each have their own characteristics, symptoms, duration, and treatment approaches.

Stress is key for survival, but too much stress can be detrimental. Emotional stress that stays around for weeks or months can weaken the immune system and cause high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety and even heart disease. In particular, too much epinephrine can be harmful to your heart.

Pay attention to the 10 step stress solution boot camp and live a healthier you!

Signing Out!

Dr. Destiny Davis-Santiago 

                    aka Big Sister On Point