5 Ways to Combat Stress
Your heart pumps faster. Your mind races. You breathe more quickly. These are signs of stress many of us might recognize. And, in the short term, they’re not a big deal. But over time, chronic stress can increase your risk for bigger health problems.
So, what’s happening when you feel stress? “When we have anxiety-provoking situations, it sets off a series of events in the body,” says Carlyle Stewart, M.D., an internal medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. Anxiety causes the release of adrenaline, and over time, depletes the body of important, naturally occurring hormones and compounds, such as serotonin and endorphins that help us obtain and maintain a sense of well-being. This can cause fatigue, anxiety and even depression.
Here are five ways Dr. Stewart has found to be helpful in reducing stress levels.
1. Avoid stressful events. If you can leave a stressful job in lieu of a less stressful one, consider it. But, Dr. Stewart says, it’s usually almost impossible to avoid stress entirely. “When that’s not possible, we want to do things that naturally raise our endorphin and serotonin levels,” he says.
2. Hit the gym. “Exercise may have a therapeutic effect on stress,” Dr. Stewart says. While a workout may initially raise adrenaline levels, it eventually leads to significant increases in endorphin and serotonin levels, which in turn, provide a greater sense of well-being. In many cases, a sense of euphoria may occur after completing a good exercise regimen.
3. Get your rest. “A good night’s sleep is a great way to reduce the effects of stress,” he says. “The body restores and normalizes many essential hormone and chemical levels while we sleep.”
4. Tickle your funny bone. Laughter is believed to raise endorphin levels, Dr. Stewart explains. Endorphins may operate in conjunction with serotonin, and help naturally combat the negative effects of stress.
5. Get your vitamins. “The body functions well when it has the nutrients it needs to perform efficiently and effectively,” Dr. Stewart recommends that people take a multivitamin in addition to eating a balanced diet. “Anybody under undue stress should have their diets supplemented by B-complex vitamins,” with minerals he adds. Unlike other vitamins, these nutrients are not usually stored by the body. Blood levels may be depleted more rapidly since no major storage capacity exists. Periodic replacement may help the body function more efficiently under stressful conditions.
To learn more about the effects of chronic stress, click here.