Stress can boost a person’s performance as well as block it completely. For example, stress at the beginning of a sports competition can increase performance, which is called positive stress. On the other hand, if it is chronic stress, it is imperative to find a solution to combat it.
Identify stress, define the causes
You feel an increase in heart rate, your breathing becomes heavier, your blood vessels constrict. You feel like you are suffocating. No doubt about it, you are completely stressed. And these reactions are repeated often, sometimes even several times a day. You are suffering from chronic stress.
You want to get rid of this awful feeling: start by identifying the causes. Several times during the day, you are exposed to prolonged and repeated stressors. It may be the presence of your boss, a recurring family conflict or a deeper suffering such as a bereavement or a psychological shock.
Its consequences on health
Stress is felt by everyone, because it is a natural reaction of the body. But be careful, this reaction can be harmful to your psychological and even physical balance.
You need to act quickly because this stress can have disastrous consequences for your overall health. Chronic stress is the severe form of stress. It is also known as sickly stress.
This type of stress tends to last for several days or even weeks. Your emotions are overwhelmed and cause physical and psychological exhaustion. It causes headaches, insomnia, eating disorders, musculoskeletal pain. All these symptoms can lead to anxiety, depression and burn-out. It is necessary to react before.
Fight stress naturally
So before your doctor prescribes psychotropic drugs, here are some completely natural tips for your battle against stress.
Playing sports
It’s not a matter of working out several hours a week if you don’t like sports. Above all, you need to enjoy yourself. To start, take a break and go for a walk for about 10 minutes. Focus on your steps and look around. These few minutes have allowed you to escape and de-stress. However, it should be noted that intense exercise releases pleasure hormones.
Breathe
Breathing is an excellent way to fight against a state of stress. There are different breathing exercises:
- Abdominal breathing: place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe in deeply and slowly through your nose while inflating your abdomen. Exhale for 10 seconds;
- Chest breathing: inflate your chest (your rib cage), your shoulders go up when you breathe in. Exhale and your muscles return to their initial position;
- Cardiac coherence: it is practiced through breathing with the 365 rule, i.e. 3 times a day, 6 breaths per minute and for 5 minutes.
Relaxing
Get comfortable in a quiet place where you feel especially good. Choose soothing music. You can find a lot of relaxing music on the Internet. It can also be the sound of waves, rain or birdsong. Close your eyes, breathe calmly and clear your mind. Stay like this for about ten minutes.
To remember
On the Internet, you can find other breathing exercises to do with a tutorial. You can also practice meditation or yoga. There is also sophrology. Don’t let your stress get the better of you. React first!
