Know stress so you can have less stress

National Stress Awareness Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday in November. This year, it is on November 4.

We don’t always realize that a little stress is actually good for us; it helps us acknowledge the changes in our lives.  But too much stress can be very unhealthy.

Stress is the body’s response to harmful circumstances. During stress events, the heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises.

Stress means different things to different people. What creates stress is one person may be of little concern to another. Everyone handles stress differently; some people are able to handle it better than others. A small dose of stress might be overthinking about a challenging quiz, where students begin to have doubts about it and may struggle to get to sleep the night before. That is something that’s easy to get taken care of.

A more serious cause of stress might manifest itself in family strife or loneliness. Depression could be the result, and this is much harder to deal with. Individuals because overwhelmed and often find it more difficult to deal with.

Our bodies can only hold onto so much stress before we react. Excessive stress can cause mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and other personality disorders. One of the most common disorders most people get diagnosed with stress is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is when someone has a rough time recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, and the condition can last months or years, especially when incidents trigger memories of the damage, leading to emotional and physical reactions.

According to Helpguide.org, the top five symptoms of stress are 1) depression or general unhappiness, 2) anxiety and agitation, 3) moodiness, irritability, or anger, 4) a feeling of being overwhelmed, and 5) loneliness and isolation. If you or someone you know is dealing with stress, call the National Hopeline Network at (800) 442-HOPE (4673). Help yourself or your friends. National Stress Awareness Day is a great time to move forward and remember that, like the day, stress can become temporary!