Men’s Health – Stressed Out

An important part of everyday life is coping with stress. Deadlines at work, parenting, making time for friends, and maintaining a household can be a difficult juggling act for anyone. That is why it is important to understand the effects of stress and how to cope with it in a positive manner.What is stress? Simply put, stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge from the outside world. Nominal stress can stimulate our senses to face tough situations. However, the problem arises when stress grows to levels that overwhelm a person’s ability to function properly. If stress builds to uncomfortable levels, it can begin to adversely affect your body. High levels of stress are known to be linked with common ailments such as headaches, muscle tension, chest pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, and irritability. If the body constantly runs at these high pressure rates, it can start to have a detrimental effect on you. Chronic Stress is known to have ties with increased risk of conditions such as heart disease, chronic muscle tension, panic attacks, chronic depression, diabetes, and peptic ulcers.What can you do? When it comes to stress, it is important to develop healthy habits and practices that promote wellbeing and a positive outlook on life.1.) Take care of yourself. It’s important to eat properly, exercise on a regular basis, get enough sleep, and give yourself breaks when stress begins to build up.2.) Open up and share your feelings to a spouse, friend, parent, counselor, or doctor. Sometimes just talking to someone is the best medicine.3.) Set aside time for hobbies to allow yourself to unwind and relax after long stressful days.4.) Always keep a sense of humor.This summer when things seem to be getting too hot, remember to keep your cool,and enjoy the simple healthy pleasures in life.For more information on our counseling services and Reiki Therapy, please visit Primary Health’s Reiki Services.