Celebrate Stress Awareness Month
The month of April 2013 marks the 21st anniversary of the first Stress Awareness Month, which has been held every April since 1992. National Stress Awareness Month recognizes that stress is a part of life and most individuals experience stress at some time or another. Awareness and education brings stress into the limelight, and provides resources that individuals can reach out to if stress is a major life issue. In fact, theHealth Resource Network, Inc. saysthat “during this annual thirty day period, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country are encouraged to join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.”
Recognizing stress is the first accomplishment
There may be many individuals who do not even recognize that stress is having a negative impact on their body. Stress can have negative effects on physical and emotional well-being.The Institute of HeartMathsays that stress can “cause irritability, muscle tension, depression, sleeplessness, loss of memory or other cognitive function and far more serious problems, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, palpitations and ultimately cardiac arrest.” This list likely describes several symptoms that many people may regularly brush off as just having a long day at work, a big project that has to be completed or lack of sleep due to mild insomnia. In reality, it can be a strong warning sign of imminent health issues.
Recognizing what triggers stress for each person is an important aspect of recognizing that stress is playing a part in your life and well-being. Although some researchers claim that it is not an actual stressful event, but the perception of the event that an individual has that causes stress, but HeartMath says that it is not just the perception of events but also the “emotional response” to that perception. HeartMath challenges visitors to the site to “Take the Stress Test.” Answering these questions can be your first step towards celebrating Stress Awareness Month - see if you or a loved one fall into the category of someone who may be suffering from chronic stress.
Read all about it
Some individuals can learn to reduce stressors that may be unhealthy. In April 2013, for Stress Awareness Month, Health Resource Network says that two free Kindle e-books that are stress resources can be downloaded from amazon.com. The first, ‘The Irritability Cure: How to Stop Being Angry, Anxious and Frustrated All the Time’ is available for free download from April 1-5. The second Kindle e-book available for free download is titled ‘The Art of True Forgiveness: How to Forgive Anyone for Anything Anytime You Want.’ It is available for free download from April 15-19 2013.
For some individuals, reading about stress and ways to reduce stress may be the means by which information is best obtained about symptoms of chronic stress and what to do about it. For others, taking a different approach to learning about stress and participating in celebrating Stress Awareness Month may be best for them.
Take five
Some people may skip lunch or other allotted breaks at work to get a report done or when working on a major project. Some individuals may not take time to relax after work, but start right in on the work brought home. Not taking breaks can lead to unhealthy stress. In addition to regularly scheduled lunch breaks and other breaks at work, take five minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon to just get up and stretch, walk down the hall and back, meditate for five minutes or just get a healthy snack or drink from the vending machine. Committing to regularly taking five during April will set the stage for being more alert, not feeling run-down at mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
Laugh about it
Laughter truly is the best medicine. It is not just a saying. In fact, theUniversity of Maryland Medical Center saysthat laughter and humor may actually help ward off a heart attack, according to a recent study! The study found that heart disease patients were 40% less likely to laugh about a variety of situations than individuals of about the same age who did not suffer from heart disease. Dr. Michael Miller, M.D., is the director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and professor of medicine at University of Maryland School of Medicine. He says that while we do not yet know why laughing protects the heart but we do know that “mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels.
The study also revealed that not only were the patients with heart disease less likely to laugh in the same situations as their counterparts in the study without heart disease; those with heart disease were also more likely to display hostility and anger! This Stress Awareness Day, lighten up and laugh - often. Laughing has now been proved to have health benefits that may actually contribute to heart attack prevention!
Do not keep the humor to yourself either. Share a joke, a funny story or just share a laugh when with a loved one.HelpGuide sharesthe information that laughing also “strengthens your immune system, boosts your energy, diminish pain.” What better way to celebrate Stress Awareness Month than to also help a loved one reap the physical and emotional health benefits of laughing and a sense of humor?
Take “Me Time”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,Federal Occupational Health Division says thattaking time for yourself “is a necessity” to avoid the unhealthy consequences of stress. It is suggested that taking time for fun and relaxation allows for being able to better handle the stressors of life. Some of the ways to relax and recharge that the office of Federal Occupational Health suggests includes taking a walk, going for a run, doing yoga, playing a sport, meditating, reading a book or spending time with a loved one. So while being a full-time couch potato may not be healthy, you also do not have to be an athlete in order to rejuvenate and recharge. Taking “Me Time” allows an individual to reap the rewards of better health and healthier relationships.
Enjoy a hobby
Nearly everyone can most likely name at least one hobby that is truly enjoyed or that would be enjoyed if there was just more time. Perhaps it has never materialized due to time restraints caused by being overworked and drained due to the effects of chronic stress. Having a hobby allows for more time for self as well as the ability to see a goal realized. The hobby could be crafts, woodworking, fishing, drawing or painting, writing, antiquing, photography, traveling, learning a new language or any number of things. A hobby, without demanding deadlines and perfection expected, may contribute to less stress and a better sense of well-being. During Stress Awareness Month, commit to making delving into that hobby a reality. Do not back down; make time for your hobby often.
During the month of April, which is recognized as Stress Awareness Month, individuals have the opportunity to take steps towards a healthier life. Not only will celebrating Stress Awareness Month contribute to being healthier, but the quality of life will improve. When people suffer less stress, there is a better sense of well-being and people are likely to be happier and have more energy. Be sure to share the measures for celebrating Stress Awareness Month with loved ones so they will also reap the rewards of reduced stress and better physical and emotional health.
