Let’s talk stress

Hi guys!
As we begin this journey where we talk about anything and everything Mental Health, I have decided to debut this blog with a discussion on Stress.
What is stress?
Stress is probably a word we use more often than not and an encounter we frequently experience in our daily lives. It is defined as a reaction that we make, be it physically or psychologically, to a circumstance that we may find challenging or exciting.
There are 3 types of stress – eustress, neustress and distress.
1) Eustress is the form of stress we get from positive encounters such as achievements, happy moments and the like. This type of stress releases feel good chemicals known as endorphins.
2) Neustress is a sensory stimulus perceived as unimportant. It has little to no effect or bodily response.
3) Distress is the unfavourable or negative interpretation of events, which yields responses such as anger and sadness. These in turn compromise our mental wellbeing.
Distress, because it is the negative type of stress, will be given the most attention. While many of us experience distress frequently in our lifetime, how we handle it determines the outcome of our lives in the long run.
Signs and Symtoms of stress
There are a number of things that can help us tell that we are undergoing stressful moments that need to be attended to and these include:
*Overthinking,
*chest pains,
*palpitations (when your heartbeat is faster than usual),
*trouble sleeping or maintaining sleep throughout the night,
*high blood pressure,
*headaches/dizziness and in some cases
*social withdrawal.
*Effects of unmanaged stress*
If stress is not properly managed, it can develop into more serious illnesses and mental disorders such as :-

• Unhealthy and estranged relationships as one withdraws from daily life activities and other activities one used to find pleasure in. More so, people with chronic stress tend to isolate themselves.
• Emotional instability – all little things become a trigger and easily make one angry, sad or have emotional outbursts.
• Clinical depression – prolonged stress increases the risk of depression to a point where it is an illness, clinically diagnosed.
• The worst outcome of unmanaged stress is when it results in suicide.
  How to avoid and manage stress.
  •Avoid negative self-talk: – always be your number one cheerleader. Never look down on yourself.
  •Be optimistic: – always maintain a positive attitude about life. Dare to take on challenges, and treat failures as lessons learnt.
  •Keep a thought journal: – this becomes your non-human friend, one most favourable because without a mind of its own, you can pour your heart out to it without holding back for fear of being judged.
  •Talk to someone: – you may not get a solution or the response you seek, but as the old saying goes, “a problem shared is a problem half solved.”

Finally,as we celebrate the month of September let us remember that it is the month of Suicide Prevention and Awareness. Never underestimate your emotions or that of someone who decides to confide in you. Protect your mental health, you matter!!
#Becausementalhealthmatters