Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. It is believed that when you sense danger, whether it is real or imagined, the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid automatic process known as “fight-or-flight” or the “stress response.” Stress can be triggered by anything if you allow it to. It is a mental thing, and it can cause very serious ailments if it is not cared for in the appropriate manner.

Stress has the ability to take a true toll on your body. The physical manifestations of stress are low energy, headaches, upset stomach, nausea, aches, pains, tense muscles, insomnia, elevated blood pressure, and plenty more. These manifestations can lead to an even more serious stressor, known as anxiety. You can think of it as stress on steroids.

Getting over your anxiety can be lot harder than getting over stress. If you can nip stress in the bud, then it is in the best interest of your health to do so. Once you allow stress to take over your body it can have effects on your well-being like weight loss, loss of appetite, and mood swings. All of these symptoms can have a greater effect on our lives if we give stress power. Listed below are seven ways to let that stress go.

1.Get More Sleep:
Although stress has a way of interrupting our sleeping patterns, it also has a way of alleviating it in the first place. Turn your bedroom into a clean, tranquil oasis to help calm your mind and spirit.

2. Increase Your Physical Activity:
Exercise is a great way of relieving stress and letting off built up steam. It could also help reverse that weight gain you may have put on when stressing.

3. Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, and Nicotine:
Avoid or reduce your consumption in these categories because they tend to make you a little more paranoid or stressed.

4. Relaxation Techniques:
Breathing exercises, shopping, and meditating can help you when you feel yourself stressing about a particular issue.

5. Talk It Out:
Talking to friends and getting problems off your chest help greatly. Sometimes all we need is a person willing to listen.

6. Writing:
Journaling can help you get your thoughts out if you are not someone who likes to talk to people about what you are going through.

7. Learn to Say No:
As human beings we have to know when we are running our bodies into the ground by always feeling like we have to say yes to everyone and everything. Just say NO!

Written by: Hillary Griffin