Is chronic stress stealing your happiness?
It’s normal to experience fluctuating moods in everyday life. We all face challenges and situations in our work and relationships that have the potential to weigh down on our sense of happiness and well-being. Sometimes the stress can persist to chronic levels where it starts interfering with our ability to handle our daily activities and enjoying our relationships.
Chronic stress is an exacerbating element for most if not all medical and psychological disorders. You begin to experience sleeping problems, headaches, fatigue, appetite changes, self-destructive feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness and the inability to concentrate or make decisions- among other symptoms.
We can even alienate ourselves, become dull, moody, irritable and totally miserable and discontented with our lives. Acute levels of stress only pull us from reality and drench us in the depths of anxiety and fear of the future, or the dread of the reoccurrence of the past.
On the other hand some manageable stress can be a good thing. It can motivate us to achieve goals, beat deadlines, and make certain fundamental decisions that can transform our lives for the better.
How to deal with chronic Stress
Once you’ve identified the symptoms and feel yourself losing grip of all the good in your life, make the following adjustments to get yourself back on track.
Prioritize and Set limits.
Having too many commitments can easily make you feel helpless and overwhelmed; you can only do so much in a given time frame. Identify the 3 most important tasks you feel are absolutely essential for that day along with the time it will take to complete each one. Delegate other tasks where possible.
Build a strong support system.
Reach out to your close family and friends and share your burden. They are there to support you when you ask for the support.
Stay healthy
Cut down on caffeine and exercise regularly. Physical activity can be highly therapeutic.
Enhance your sleep quality.
Quality sleep is imperative. It relaxes your body, stabilizes your hormones and recharges your energy. Sleep at least 7 hours a day.
Strive for optimism
Learn to see problems as opportunities and manage your negative thoughts. Set more realistic expectations and reframe the way you look at stressful situations.
Seek help
If you continue to feel overwhelmed, schedule a complimentary discovery session with me. I can help you to develop strategies to manage your stress effectively and make behavioural changes to help improve your overall health.
To your success,
Susan