STRESS ?

Stress is when we have an imbalance between demands and our ability and resources to cope this these demands. Stress comes in all different shapes and size – be it hitting every red light on the way to work, all the way up to significant life events such as illness, employment, and finances.

Stress affects our body – it makes us release all sorts of chemicals to help us try and cope. While this can be helpful in the short-term, too much stress can cause cardiovascular problems ?, weaken our immune system ?, and cause concentration and memory problems ?

While we can’t change the way we biologically react to stress, we can change how we cope. We can find practical, problem-solving solutions to resolve our stressors, or we can find emotional ways to cope.

Not all these coping strategies can be helpful in the long-term. Things like drinking, comfort eating, and avoidance of the stressor may feel good in the short-term, but could cause further problems and stress down the line ?

Instead, it’s useful to look at how we can cope with stress in a positive way. This could be exercising ??‍♀‍, spending quality with family and friends ?‍?‍?‍?, or even spending time on your own with a good book and cup of tea ☕ As humans, we tend to be creatures of habit. Once we learn that these positive ways of dealing with stress are helpful, we’ll know to use them again the next time life isn’t going according to plan ??
Everyone has different ways of coping with stress – it’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all. We’d love to hear how you cope with stress. Let us know in the comments below! Who knows – your strategies may be helpful for someone else! ⚖