We often allow external factors to affect us internally. What external factors are there you ask? You have stresses from work. There are stresses that come from spouses/significant others. There are family stresses. Big ones, not to say that that the previous examples are not, are the financial stresses. What does stress do to our bodies? Many people overlook the effects of stress, especially the long term effects, due to the fact that life is very busy, we decide to fight through it without really addressing it, or we decide to ignore it with hopes that they go away. Check out these facts on stress discovered on the WebMD website under an article entitled The Effects of Stress on Your Body:
- Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
- Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
- Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace. Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
- The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions.
Check out this article by going to: http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/effects-of-stress-on-your-body
The huge problem that some people have faced as it pertains to handling of stress is that some have forgotten how to enjoy life and take time for themselves. I’m learning that you have to be selfish sometimes in order to ensure that you are physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally sound. Your quality of life depends on this. So today take a timeout for yourself and do something for you….no matter how big or how small. Life is too short and each day you wake up it has gotten one day shorter. Healthy eating and exercising, easy-listening music (smooth R&B, easy rock, jazz, classical, Christian, etc.), meditation/yoga, and/or reading and writing are just some examples of ways to handle stresses. Going on walks, going on trips, and/or going to movies are things you can do for yourself just to name a few to remove yourself from stressful situations. Even if it is momentarily any break that comes when stressed can help you. These are things people know that they can do, but often don’t take the time to make them happen. So my question to you as it pertains to how you are dealing with stress in your life is….What are you doing to take care of you?