Overcoming Depression

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How stress affects health

Stress exists in your mind. But it also affects your heart, stomach, muscles and even your toes.   According to Ronald Glaser, Ph.D, a researcher at Ohio State University Medical School, stress may affect every cell in your body. Stress affects health.

CORTISOL – THE STRESS CHEMICAL

During stressful times, the body produces various chemicals, including cortisol. Cortisol is an immune-suppressing hormone and it means danger!!. The more stressed you become, the more cortisol is produced. This results in a weakened immune system making a person more susceptible to illness. A one-day stressor isn’t going to hugely affect your immune system, but a chronic ongoing stressor that lasts for weeks will dampen your immune response to disease. So it’s clear that stress affects health.

By getting a better understanding of the connection between stress and disease and making a decision to reduce your stress you will be able to get a greater sense of physical health and well-being.

Tips for Keeping Stress in Check

We can’t avoid stress, it’s a part of living. But to stay healthy we need to keep it in check.

  • Recognize your stress signals
  • Prepare yourself when you know you are going to face a situation that is going to stress you. For example, visualize going into the stressful situation with confidence until it looses its fear factor. Winning starts in the head.
  • Exercise –  produces healthy chemicals.
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Stay connected with friends and family.
  • Take up a relaxing, enjoyable hobby.
  • Learn relaxation techniques.
  • Learn to set limits, learn to say NO!
  • Get sufficient sleep.
  • Limit caffeine intake. Learn more about the pros and cons of coffee
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs.
  • Learn to control your breathing to prevent hyperventilating in anxious situations. Click here for more …

What to do when dealing with serious stress.

  • Avoid unnecessary changes in your life while you work on the problem.
  • Quieten your mind. The mind can make things worse than they really are by predicting disaster. Keep your thoughts in the present.
  • Pluck up courage and face whatever is stressing you. Avoidance, although tempting doesn’t help as the stress will keep coming back.
  • Look at previous success in coping with stress and what worked for you.
  • Action plan. Decide on a course of action and stick to the plan.
  • Take time out and relax. Listen to relaxing, uplifting music, taking a walk, gardening, reading or exercising will help.

You’re important so be aware of how stress affects your health.

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