Your overall health has a profound impact on the stress you are experiencing in your everyday life. From making sure you are eating a balanced diet to being diagnosed with a disease and/or illness; your health can be a major stressor. Stress in turn can cause numerous health conditions such as severe headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety. As the number one proxy killer disease today, stress can create a vicious cycle of declining health. So, it is important to learn how to manage your stress in order to manage your health.
Tips to Help Reduce Health Related Stress
1. Listen To Your Body
Don’t ignore natural warning signs that you need to slow down or make changes to your lifestyle. Your body will warn you if you are overstressed and/or displaying signs of a disease or illness.
2. Have a Treatment Plan
Consult with your doctor about creating a treatment plan that will benefit your health, reduce your symptoms, and manage your stress. If you are diagnosis with a disease or illness make sure you and your doctor are following through with a treatment plan that is specifically designed for you. Don’t be afraid to get a second, third, or even more opinions.
3. Eat Right, Exercise, and get Plenty of Sleep
Sounds simple, but it can be hard if you are over stressed and suffering from declining health. The easiest way to provide your body these three essentials is to create routines. Figure out the best routine for you and stick with it! Plan your meals ahead of time, create an exercise program that you will actually stick with, and maintain a regular sleep schedule. All of these simple changes will help tremendously with reducing daily stress.
4. Incorporate Activities that Reduce Stress
The best way to reduce any type of stress, health related or not, is to find activities that are pleasurable and decrease your stress levels. Some common stress relieving activities include: meditation or deep breathing, painting, or sports. Try different hobbies and activities until you find what works for you and your health.
5. Connect with Others
Talking about your health conditions and connecting with others who have similar experiences is extremely beneficial in reducing stress. Find a local support group, confided in a trusted friend, and/or meet with a therapist who can provide you with additional guidance.
Coming up soon I will be starting a twitter support group where we will be talking about some topics that may be causing you stress. Follow me on Twitter @ElizabethNDrew.
Elizabeth