Stress related conditions account for over 65% of doctor's visits. Autoimmune diseases like arthritis, heart problems and digestive problems are significantly related to stress. So how do we recognize we are under stress and how do we deal with it

The stress response is the body's flight or fight response. Any challenging situation prompts the body to charge itself with adrenaline, cortisol and other such chemical enzymes to help it to make a decision. This stress response proves very useful when we need to make instantaneous decisions such as averting an accident or finishing a task on time. However when you feel that you are constantly exposed to stressful situations, being in a perpetual state of flight or fight, will soon cause your body systems to wear out. It is difficult to get out of this state causing pressure on your heart, muscles, nervous system, brain and almost every organ in the body

How to recognize stress?

Immediate response to stress include symptoms such as a beating heart, fast breathing, sweating and flushing. When you are exposed to chronic stress, you will experience depression, constantly feeling overwhelmed, stomach aches, body aches, headaches, trouble sleeping, and a weak immune system making you prone to catching colds and other infections

How to deal with stress?

Keep a journal where you note down situations that caused you stress. This might help you to recognize what kind of situations to avoid or to be able to reflect how to be better able to cope with them

Build good relationships with friends and co-workers. Simply talking to understanding people can relieve a substantial amount of stress. (90% ofa psychiatrist's job is simply to listen)

Try and change your attitude to life. Many situations that seem stressful may be so only because of perception. For e.g. if you find waiting or driving in traffic stressful, try to make good use of the time by listening to music or audio books. The drive may soon be perceived as pleasurable.

Take up relaxing hobbies, exercise, meditate - All these activities not only keep you in good shape but also help you relax.

Read the top 10 reasons that cause stress and natural stress relief methods

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References:

Adv Mind Body Med. 2014 Spring;28(2):10-5.
An open-label study to elucidate the effects of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract in the management of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.
Dave UP et al.

Food Funct. 2014 Mar;5(3):517-20. doi: 10.1039/c3fo60467e. Bacopa monnieri (L.) exerts anti-inflammatory effects on cells of the innate immune system in vitro. Williams R1, Münch G, Gyengesi E, Bennett L.

Phytother Res. 2014 Apr;28(4):551-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5029. Epub 2013 Jun 21. An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood. Benson S1, Downey LA, Stough C, Wetherell M, Zangara A, Scholey A.

Pubmed.org

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