The Importance of Managing Our Stress

Image courtesy of PGeveryday

The other day I was looking at the P&Geveryday website as part of this campaign and came across an article that made me want to stop browsing and immediately clicked-through to read it.  The post talked about the many signs that your body gives you when you are under stress and tips on how to decompress.  I have been thinking a lot about stress lately and how we underestimate the power that stress has over our physical and mental health.  Sometimes we don’t realize we are getting too stressed but our body will give us signs that it might be a good idea to slow down or take some time for ourselves.

Signs of Stress – can be physical and mental:

Some signs of emotional stress include becoming easily agitated, moody and frustrated easily.  Also, you might feel overwhelmed or like you are losing control.  When you are too stressed you may find it difficult to relax and quiet racing thoughts.  Low self-esteem, lonely, feelings of worthlessness and depression are also signs of emotional stress.

Physical symptoms of stress can present themselves as low energy, headaches, aches and pains and chest pain and rapid heartbeats.  Stomach upset and intestinal problems and even nausea are signs of stress.  Difficulty sleeping, loss of sexual desire and nervousness and shaking might also be present.  If you find yourself grinding your teeth at night or clenching your jaw during the day – these could be signs of stress that your body is expressing. There are mouth guards that will help decrease jaw pain if you do find yourself grinding your teeth.  Speak to your dentist about this option.

Some other symptoms include racing thoughts, inability to focus, and constant worrying.  Also look for changes in appetite – either eating too much or too little.  This post on the P&Geveryday website How To Read Your Body’s Stress Signals provides more signs to look for and how best to try to manage stress levels.

 Image courtesy of WebMD

Take Time Out For You:

So next time you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or too stressed, do something that you enjoy doing like a walk in the park, tea with a girlfriend or massage. And find some type of exercise that you enjoy.  I really like taking long walks with my family or alone with my 110+ pound 14 month old puppy (who you could say takes me for the walk).  There are a ton of health benefits to walking and less stress on your joints.  As mothers we tend to take care of those around us but it is vital for everyone around us that we take care of ourselves as well!  Check out the P&Geveryday™ (pgeveryday.com) website for some great content and resources on beauty, family, food, health, home and more.  The site aims to inspire, support and empower you to unlock the extraordinary potential in your everyday life.  They also have delicious recipes (check out the yummy homemade corndog recipe) and even beauty trends and smart tips for everyday. And if you are a coupon-loving mama – they have coupons and samples from some of your favorite brands.  P&Geveryday™ is your online platform created by Procter & Gamble, a company that has been establishing brands for the past 175 years, helping people around the world have extraordinary days. Every day.

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.