Stress seems to be largely accepted as part of everyday life nowadays and even some what glorified! I find this a little crazy given what excess stress can do to your body.
Some level of stress can be good, personally I always find it much easier to focus when I have a deadline or some level of stress placed upon me, however if it goes too much the other way and it's overwhelming then I really struggle to hold onto that focus. Side note: a parallel can be made with training here, the right amount of exercise maximises your results, let it tip over into too much and it becomes counterproductive (I wrote about how in a past blog, which you can find here).
Before thinking specifically of stress I want to take a quick look at why getting active can have so many general mental health benefits:
Improved self-esteem & self-confidence
Improved mental alertness
Improved tolerance with every day problems
Reduction in anxiety and stress
Improved ability to handle and respond to stressful situations
Note the last 2!!
So how do you know when it's too much?
Below are 2 snapshot lists of psychological & physical signs that you're experiencing high stress, if you're experiencing any of these your body may be telling you that it could be time to take a break.
Firstly psychological signs:
Feeling irritable & impatient
Anxious
Depressed
Unable to switch off
Uninterested in life
Sense of dread
Feeling neglected & lonely
You find it hard to make decisions
Eating too much or too little
Drinking or smoking more than usual
Restless
Feeling tearful or crying
Secondly, the physical signs:
Shallow breathing or hyperventilating
Panic attacks
Blurred eyesight or sore eyes
Trouble sleeping
Tired all of the time
Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw
Headaches
Chest pain
High blood pressure
Indigestion or heartburn
Trouble going to the loo
Feeling dizzy or faint
You can see why too much stress can be a really big problem, if it isn't addressed it can lead to other mental health problems, heart disease, stroke, asthma, diabetes and even some types of cancer.
If anything from the above lists sound familiar then please don't worry as there are things you can do right now to help: such as confiding in a close friend or colleague, having a go at meditation plus of course, exercise!
How exercise can help
Having a fitness routine is one of the best ways to help cope with stress: It can minimise the effects of stress on the body by improving your fitness; most specifically your heart and lungs when you do cardio, reducing the probability of developing any of the physical problems I mentioned earlier. Exercise also enables you to clear your head for a time (a bit like meditation) putting you in a better position to tackle whatever life throws at you.
Exercising often helps motivate people to make healthier choices when it comes their food as well, which, apart from the well known physical health benefits, can also have a significant impact on your mood.
It also helps you to have more restful sleep which is probably more important than you realise. Rest and sleep is when your body repairs itself, it uses this time to rebuild and fight off infections. Doing the right amount of exercise means the body will be using this time to make itself stronger.
You don't actually need any excuse to jump into a fitness routine but if you did this is a pretty good one!
Please remember that if you're feeling overwhelmed there is a way out and it doesn't have to be some huge step (even though it might feel like it), just take one day at a time and try talking to someone. Also please know that If you'd like help getting active, I'm always here to offer advice and support - whether you're a client or not!
I hope that this has helped someone 💖
Let me know what you think and if you'd like any advice.
C xx
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