Stress

What is stress?

Stress is your body’s natural response to a challenging, demanding, or potentially dangerous event. Though you often hear about stress in a negative context, your stress response can help save your life in a threatening situation.

Stress hormones trigger your fight-or-flight response. When this happens, your heart rate increases, you breathe faster, and your muscles prepare for action. 

However, if your stress response keeps firing during daily activities, like your commute to work, it can take a toll on your health. 

How does stress affect my health?

Chronic stress occurs when you experience constant, long-term stress. Chronic stress causes various health problems that affect your body and mind, such as:

• Headaches
• Muscle tension 
• Back pain and neck pain
• Mood changes, including depression
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Digestive issues, including heartburn
• Weakened immune system
• High blood pressure
• Pounding heart
• High blood sugar
• Sexual dysfunction
• Infertility

Stress also influences your behavior. People who experience chronic stress are more likely to eat too much or too little, have angry outbursts, and misuse drugs and alcohol.

How can I manage stress?

The team at Gain Wellness Center treats the root cause of your health concerns, not just the symptoms. If stress is affecting your health, their caring team works with you to develop an effective stress management plan that fits your lifestyle. 

Depending on your needs, stress management may include:

• Recognizing your unique stress signals
• Getting regular physical activity
• Spending time with family and friends
• Relaxing activities like yoga and meditation
• Massage therapy
• Pleasurable hobbies like gardening and reading

It’s also important to get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy, nutritious diet. Your Gain Wellness Center provider may recommend nutritional counseling.

When should I seek help for stress?

Even though stress is a normal part of life, it shouldn’t interfere with your day-to-day routine. If you’re experiencing physical, emotional, cognitive, or behavioral effects of stress, the team at Gain Wellness Center is here for you.

They perform a complete wellness evaluation that includes a review of your symptoms and lifestyle. They help you understand how stress affects your health and teach you how to manage it more effectively.

With proper stress management, you can enjoy more energy, vitality, and happiness. Don’t hesitate to call Gain Wellness Center or use the online booking tool to schedule a free consultation today.