The first step is discussing what stress is, understanding how it can affect the body. Then discuss strategies and tips for dealing with stress and most importantly, how you create and keep a sense of community. When we look at how stress impacts us one thing we know is that no one person handles it the same. There are three changes that can occur in people that are impacted by stress.
- Emotional, moodiness, irritability, frustration, panic, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed etc
- Physical, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, aches and pains, frequent colds, skin complaints etc
- Behavioral, sleeping too little or too much, demotivated, isolating yourself etc
Did you know that women experience higher levels of stress than men? Three out of four doctors office visits are for stress related ailments and that these stress related ailments cost the nation $300 billion dollars each year in medical bills and lost revenue. Stress has been linked to Heart Disease, Diabetes, Asthma, gastrointestinal disorders and depression.
Some of the main causes are money issues, family issues, work related problems, death of someone close and the future of our nation.
There are ways we can learn to cope with stress such as;
- Find a focus group
- Maintain Exercise routine
- Eat healthy
- Talk to others
- Take time for yourself
- Practice deep breathing
- Manage social media time
