Stress is something that seems completely unavoidable. In one way or another, it is something that we all have dealt with.⁣
There are ways of coping with stress, like practicing mindfulness and regularly working out, but one will never be able to live stress-free. What is more important is how we process through stress. It can be a mix of blame, guilt, shame and it’s important to recognize which one and why we react in this way.⁣
The true key to managing stress—both emotional and physical manifestations of it—is recognizing your own triggers, and then identifying coping mechanisms.⁣
So, let’s identify some of the symptoms, so we can start recognizing triggers.⁣
Some emotional symptoms include:⁣
-poor concentration skills⁣
-difficulty remembering things⁣
-increased feelings of anxiety, anger, grief, or sadness⁣
-disappointment and feelings of falling short, perhaps repeatedly.⁣
Some physical symptoms include:⁣
-altered eating habits⁣
-chronic headaches⁣
-muscle tension⁣
-gastrointestinal issues⁣
-disrupted sleeping patterns⁣
The good news is that there are many ways to manage emotional stress if it begins to overwhelm you.⁣
Your first step: Get a journal and write what at this moment is making you feel so overwhelmed. Document how it transpired and what you can do to change your reaction to stress.⁣
Second: Create a path to rework your reaction to the stressful circumstance. Often, the way reacted makes us even more stressed. What can you deem is a solution to it not occurring again. Often, listening to those cues or little voices telling us to be part of the solution is helpful.⁣
Think about the healthy habits you already know you should be practicing. Things like drinking water, eating healthy, moving your body, getting the proper amount of sleep can all help.⁣
Lastly: Stay aware of the things that are causing you the stress, to mitigate in the future.⁣
Often, when we document our triggers we start an unwinding of a learned pattern to stress which no longer serves us.⁣