How Stress Impacts Our Lives And How To Grow in Awareness to Prevent Major Illness
Stress is the cause of 90% of our doctors visits. I was blown away by this statistic. Let’s face it we cannot avoid stress in life, but what we can do is create awareness of what triggers us, learn to practice the pause before responding, and use coping techniques to calm ourselves down. There are two types of stress; good and bad. Good stress is called eustress and is responsible for the butterflies we feel in a new relationship, as well as the stress we feel to finish something on time. A “bad” stress, however, is far more common and if we do not learn how to cope with it, it can cause major health problems.
My very own daughter featured here studying for finals Freshman year at U.K. She is on a pre vet track and academics are extremely stressful, in addition to all the other changes college students face. The best thing we can do to help them is let them know we are there for them even from a distance and to teach them coping skills to help them achieve their dreams.
Common Causes of Stress:
Being bullied
Overworking
Losing a job
Marriage/ relationship problems
Recent break up or divorce
Difficulty in school
Family struggles
Overloaded schedule
Moving
Financial struggles
When stress causes emotional harm over a prolonged period we refer to it as chronic stress. Chronic stress causes a spike in blood pressure along with many other serious health conditions.
Physical Symptoms Manifested by Stress:
Headaches * the number one cause of all headaches is stress or tension
Fatigue
Trouble sleeping
Muscular pain
Asthma
Digestive issues
Change in sex drive
Raised blood pressure
Overeating/obesity
When you read these lists notice if you relate. We are beautifully designed to grow and heal ourselves. Every decision we make can lead to health problems OR can lead us to a state of wellness. It is not a linear journey that we are on. Some days may be healthier than others, and thats OK. The key to mastering our health is to grow our awareness. Be aware of signs that your body is overtaxed. If you experience panic attacks, depression or anxiety, or find yourself numbing out (binge watching Netflix, over drinking, smoking), it’s important to learn how to manage your stress before your stress hormones inflict more damage. The body and mind are so interconnected that a simple shift in perception can alleviate your stress. We can use The Law of Attraction and know that if we think positively our bodies will produce positive outcomes.
Often we turn to alcohol, overeating, and other harmful behaviors to numb the stress, but it is important to pull the bandaid off so to speak and find and treat the underlying causes of stress.
Tools to Help You Reduce Stress:
Exercise
Breathing techniques
Healthy eating
Getting enough sleep
Social support
Working with a Wellness Coach or Therapist
Yoga
Meditation
A professional Wellness Coach can help you tremendously in reducing stress and also help you achieve your goals and dreams. The old saying, “easier said than done” is so very true. Change is not easy, but its worth it. YOU, my friends, are worth it. Many of our health problems are not only preventable, they are also reversible. So rather than popping pills, which only mask the underlying causes of illness, let’s fix the root causes of our stress. As a wellness coach I can help you look at what is working and what is not working for you, examine your personal strengths and weaknesses, and together we will create an action plan to overcome the obstacles that cause stress and anxiety so that you can live the happy and healthy life that you so deserve. Getting started is easy. We can meet in person or simply have a telephone or Skype meeting once a month. Message me when you are ready to get started, but do not wait. Now is the time. You will thank yourself six months down the road when you are living a better life.
Stress Less, Enjoy More,
Libby
P.S. Thank you for your patience while I was away. I have spent the time on both self improvement and continued education. I hope you will utilize the skills that I have to offer. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out through the contact form on my site ( or just click the green link). I look forward to providing you with regular weekly blogs.