Stress is the “State of tension that arises when you experience demands from your environment or from inside yourself.”
Acute Stress – Is often sudden, generally short-lived physical or emotional challenge or threat. For example: theft, car accident, giving a speech or a wedding.
Chronic Stress – Ongoing exposure or demand such as family conflict, work stress, financial stressors. Examples would be high-pressure work environment, relationships, indebtedness. These stressors are subtle in nature so they are more difficult to recognize.
We often don’t correlate stress with the impact it has on our bodies. Our bodies are uniquely designed to handle stress. When presented with a threatening situation it is our most basic survival instinct to either engage in a fight or run for our lives.
It is important to have a self-care toolbox to help with coping with stress. Keep such things as exercise, meditation, breathing, and stretching in your toolbox. Set aside 10 minutes a day where you don’t really think about anything and clear your head. Create small moments in your day to help cope.
By: Brenda Langdon
