By: Anisa Musleh
There are many things that can lead to stress. Sometimes these problems can persist for long periods of time where it can develop into chronic stress. It’s normal to feel this way once in a while however this can have many detrimental effects on your overall health. Moreover, stress can take a toll on your body mentally and physically as well. One major outcome of stress is the release of a hormone called cortisol from your adrenal glands. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. When this hormone is elevated in the bloodstream for long periods of time this can lead to increased blood pressure, weight gain, cholesterol and can even heart disease. Mentally, elevated levels of cortisol can cause depression and other mental illnesses.
Many people undergo stress on a daily basis and things like work, family problems, school, and relationships can cause it. Stress can lead to loss of sleep and loss of sleep can lead to more stress. It becomes a vicious cycle. Therefore, it is essential to practice stress-relieving techniques to prevent stress related illnesses from occurring. For instance, Dr. Kazi at the Huda Clinic recommends aromatherapy. This includes using chamomile or lavender scented oils on your skin before going to bed, this helps loosen tight muscles and relieve stress related insomnia. Not only is chamomile an ingredient in oils, you can also purchase
chamomile tea and this can have many other health benefits besides helping you fall asleep. Exercising or yoga are activities you can do to relieve stress. By exercising this doesn't mean undergoing strenuous activity, jogging or running can suffice. Exercising increases another type of hormones in your body called endorphins, usually called the happy hormone because it generates positive emotions in your body!
Another way to relieve stress is to actually talk about the things that are making you feel this way. Whether it is talking to a friend, family member, or even a psychiatrist (via Huda Clinic). Sometimes people have the tendency to hold on to things that is bothering them and this can lead to a buildup of stress. Talking about what stresses you out will give you a chance to at least move thoughts out of your mind instead of keeping them all jumbled up in your brain. Lastly, one of the best ways to relieve stress is to do the things that you enjoy most because this will help you find peace within yourself something that stress tends to take away. You can watch your favorite movie, go out with friends, or even take a long stroll. Moreover, what’s really important is taking action and knowing that there needs to be something done. Learning how to counteract stress instead of ignoring it can lead to a much healthier lifestyle.