Chapter 3 – Stress

Chapter three explores stress, what it is, how it comes on, what triggers it, how to manage it, etc. Everyone can say that they have experienced stress and depending on that person they chose to either let it run its course or choose ways to learn how to manage it or reduce stress in their life. As a college student in their last semester with a full-time job, and babysitting I can say confidently that I am at a point where I am likely to get easily stressed out. I had also had to learn how to manage stress and I was lucky enough to find out works best for me when I was in high school. Staying active and organizing time to work, do school work, babysit, exercise, and allow time just for me is what is crucial for me. I also had started taking yoga classes and that has been a huge help for limiting the stress in my life and my body.

For my health aspect so far eliminating stress and finding ways to deal with stress healthily as been a great tool for me. I have been good with foods I have been eating, but when it comes to snacking that’s where I challenge more and I think it can be out of boredom or even just stress eating, Instead I allow myself to go for runs or just a walk, luckily I live right next to a pond where it is a great place to get fresh air whether its just for a walk or run, but this has helped me a lot. If i feel stress come on Ill just grab my shoes and headphones and go for a run. By the time I come back I feel so much better and stronger and do not even look to snack on unhealthy things because I feel so good about myself and that my body can do that.

I had always known stress and understood it because I felt it and was a normal experience I would have here and there. The thing I never knew about was the different types of stress there is; such as distress, eustress, acute stress, episodic acute, stress, traumatic stress, and chronic stress. This is difficult to follow especially when applying to yourself. I usually just say I’m stressed but did not know how much goes into it and what it means to have a certain type of stress and how that type may need a certain treatment or release compared to the others. I also learned more about how damaging stress can be on your health that I never knew the depth of. I remember learning awhile ago how stress that goes untreated can lead to memory loss and that just was shocking since I never before would think that much about helping myself when it comes to stress and just letting it be.

Overall, I know stress is something that I will always have to deal with here and there but it feels so much better knowing that I have more control and freedom from it by learning about it more along with learning about myself. I know what my body needs when stress is coming on or I’m going into the week and most likely going to encounter stressors. Even when I am unaware of a long week and I am out with friends and something just sets me off I now am so much more aware and comfortable approaching it and knowing how to breathe or communicate with my thoughts and body. I’m still so surprised to find out that there are different types of stress, stress can affect your health, and the stress can affect your internal health. I think everyone needs to take the time to become aware of themselves, their bodies, their stressors, their type of stress, and how to manage it best for them to be as healthy as they can be.