#3 STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS ON OUR BODY

     Life is full of  hassles, frustration, anxiety, deadlines to meet, and so much stress. Stress is what you feel when  you are feeling uncomfortable or worried about something. This worry in your mind can make your body feel bad. We feel angry, insecure, frustrated, or even experience headaches when we are stressed out. 

There are broadly two kinds of stress; Eustress and Distress. Eustress is that stress which helps us get our work done. It is that stress that in limit, is good for us. For example, If we have to submit an assignment to meet the deadline, eustress helps us to quickly finish up the work to stay ahead in class/office. On the other hand, Distress is the stress that ruins our peace of mind and deteriorates our mental and physical health .For example, loss of a job, being neglected or abused, diagnosis of a illness, etc.

Stress is like electricity. It gives energy, increases arousal and affects performance. However, if the electric current is too high, it can fuse bulbs, damage appliances, etc. High stress can produce unpleasant effects on body and low stress ,may cause one to feel listless and unmotivated leading to slow performance and low efficiency.

                          

STRESS AFFECTS OUR BODY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS

1. one of main effects is Headaches and nausea.
2. When body is under stress it releases two main hormones: adrenaline and cortisol which produce marked changes in heart rate, blood pressure levels, metabolism and physical activity.
3. Stress can affect digestion and what nutrients the intestines absorb. Stress can make the intestinal barrier weaker and allow gut bacteria to enter the body.
4. Stress can kill brain cells and even reduce the size of the brain.
5. when you're stressed, your period may show up late, early, or stop altogether (known as amenorrhea). It could even be heavier and more painful.
6. Psychological stress induces a decrease of bone mass and deterioration of bone quality.
7. Stress can cause mental exhaustion in the form of irritability, anxiety, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. This is also called as burnout.
8. There is evidence that stress can produce changes in immune system and make one fall ill frequently.
9. It can cause sleep disorders and changes in sleep schedule.
10. Stress, coupled with exhaustion, may present even more body changes that lead to increased acid reflux.

   So, after knowing so many ill effects of stress  on us, i'll tell you some ways to cope with this stress:

• Exercise daily for atleast for 30 mins or go for a 45-min walk.

       

• Do some breathing exercises like pranayama and meditate to increase your focus.

      

• Take a break and visit a new place in your town

      

               

• Make time for hobbies. Give time for yourself everyday even if its 5-10 mins.

     

• Talk about your problems. Speaking it out lessens the anxiety and helps in taking better decisions.

• Eat well. Eat healthy foods like fresh veggies and fruits. When you know you are gonna be stressed in a particular day of the week, try to eat some stress releiving foods like pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, turmeric, chamomile tea, yogurt, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, etc.

Thank you for reading!