Stress Management


Everyone experiences stress. Frequent stress can cause strain on your body and brain and make it impossible to function. Finding effective ways to deal with your stress is crucial for the health of your heart.


HOW STRESS AFFECTS YOU According to The National Alliance on


Mental Illness (NAMI), stress can have the following


affects on your body: •Headaches . •Trouble sleeping. •Jaw pain. •Changes in appetite. •Frequent mood swings. •Difficulty concentrating. •Feeling overwhelmed. Stress affects your mental and physical health, including your heart. Too much stress can cause heart disease, depression and high blood pressure.


FIND YOUR TRIGGERS Learning to deal with stress is essential


to your health. NAMI shares tips and meth-ods you could use in everyday life to help you manage your stress level and take control of your health. One of the first steps to managing your


stress is to figure out what triggers your stress. What situations make you feel physically or mentally uncomfortable? The battle to control your stress will become easier as soon as you figure out the cause.


FIND METHODS THAT HELP Learn and find out what may help you when you are stressed. There is not one secure method of dealing with stress that works better than others. Each person is different and the triggers that cause their stress may be different. Experiment with different things to see what best fits your lifestyle and what you’re comfortable with. Here are some ideas on methods to help you cope and stay calm. •Exercising is one of the most effective


ways people can combat stress. Putting physical stress on your body can help to relieve mental stress. Exercising helps by lowering your body’s stress hormones and helping to improve your sleep quality, and it helps lower stress by boosting your confidence, which in turn will improve your


mental wellbeing. •Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation are good ways to relax your body. Practice by taking a step away from whatever you’re doing and taking 10 seconds to close your eyes and focus on deep breathing.


Healthy You: a guide to well-being 11


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