Stressed Out? Fight or Flight? Best Supplements to Live Happily…

What is stress?

Stress is your body physical and mental reaction to life situations, such as short-term events or long-lasting challenges. During stressful moments, the adrenal glands respond by releasing stress hormones into the blood, including Adrenaline and Cortisol. These chemicals give you a burst of energy that helps your body respond to stress and get yourself to safety.

Stress can range from mild and short-term to more extreme and long-lasting. For short-term situations, stress is beneficial to your body as it increases your heart and breathing rates and make your muscles ready to respond. Yet if you experience stress over a prolonged period of time, it could become chronic — unless you take action.

Therefore, it’s necessary to seek treatment with a psychologist or other mental health professional trained in stress management or take best supplements for brain function to improve the condition.

 

What are the impacts of stress?

Stress affects everyone differently. Long-term activation of your body’s stress response system, along with prolonged exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones, can cause a variety of symptoms and put your overall health and wellbeing at risk.

Common effects of stress on your body

  • Headache
  • Muscle tension or pain
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Change in sex drive
  • Stomach upset
  • Sleep problems
  • Shortness of breath

 

Common effects of stress on your mood

  • Anxiety and related diseases
  • Restlessness
  • Lack of motivation or focus
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Irritability or anger
  • Sadness or depression
  • Cognition impairment and early dementia

 

Common effects of stress on your behavior

  • Overeating or undereating
  • Angry outbursts
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Tobacco use
  • Social withdrawal
  • Exercising less often

 

 

Do women react to stress differently than men do?

 

Research shows that women are more probable to experience symptoms of stress such as anxiety and depression than men. The definite reasons for the differences have not been revealed yet, but it may be related to different hormonal processes of Cortisol, Epinephrine, and Oxytocin in men and women bodies. Cortisol and Epinephrine lower immunities and raise blood pressure. Oxytocin softens the reaction of Cortisol and Epinephrine by relaxing the emotions. Men release less Oxytocin than women, and therefore, have a stronger reaction from both Cortisol and Epinephrine. Future research probing these areas will provide new and exciting mechanisms and avenues for exploration of sex differences and steroidal modulation of stress responses.

 

How to act to manage stress

If you are dealing with stress symptoms, aim to explore active strategies to manage your stress before it comes to a chronic one. Inactive methods such as watching television, surfing the Internet, playing video games, drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking or overeating may seem relaxing, but they may worsen your stress over the long term.

Here are some tips to help you handle stress;

  • Take deep breaths. This makes you breathe slower and helps your muscles relax. The extra oxygen sends a message to your brain to calm and relax the body.
  • Stretch. Stretching can also help relax your muscles and make you feel less tense.
  • Write out your thoughts.  Writing down the things you are thankful for can help you handle stress.
  • Take time for hobbies and interests. It could be watching a movie, listening to music, reading a good book, or going out with friends.
  • Practice Meditation, yoga, or tai-chi. Based on studies meditation can help lower stress, improve anxiety, some menopause symptoms, side effects from cancer treatments and may lower blood pressure.
  • Get enough rest & sleep. As an adult you need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to feel rested.
  • Eat healthy. Avoid caffeine or high-sugar snack foods. Instead, eat foods with B vitamins, such as bananas, fish, avocados, chicken, and dark green, leafy vegetables. Studies show that B vitamins can help relieve stress by regulating nerves and brain cells .You can also consult your physician to take best supplements for brain function.
  • Exercise regularly. Physical activity can relax your muscles, improve your mood and help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Physical activity boosts the levels of endorphins which may help improve your mood.
  • Socialize with friends or family members. They might help you find solutions for your problems.
  • Learn to say no.  Give yourself permission to say no to reduce stress and improve your self-esteem.
  • Seek help from a psychologist or other mental health if you need it. A licensed psychologist can help you identify the challenges and stressors that affect your daily life and find ways to help you best cope for improving your overall physical and mental well-being. They may also suggest counseling or prescribe medicines, such as antidepressants or sleep aids.

 

       Dayonix Pharma/ April 9, 2019

 

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional regarding any medical condition. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in the blog and to describe best generally accepted current practices we cannot accept any liability for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information given.

April 9, 2019