With the first semester coming to an end, I know most of us students went through the stress of our many final exams. However, with the start of the New Year, it is a great idea to give ourselves some time to reflect on our mental healths. But what exactly is stress and how is it effecting our minds?
Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure (Mental Health Foundation, 2021). It is not uncommon to go through times of stress when you have significant events going on your life such as a death of a family member, financial issues, or college preparation. This is completely normal and part of human nature. However, over the long-term stress can cause many negative impacts to your health. Stress has been proven to affect our memory and brain function. According to Dr. Kerry Ressler, chief scientific officer at McLean Hospital, changes have been observed in how the brain processes information when people experience either real-life stress or stress manufactured in a research setting. Also, stress can effect many other brain functions, like mood and anxiety while promoting inflammation as well (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021). Thus, stress can be associated with multiple chronic disorders regarding the cardiovascular and nervous system.
It may seem frightening to think of the devastating effects stress has on the human mind, but thankfully there are many ways for us to cope with this feeling. Here are some tips to help your brain prepare for stress:
1. Get enough sleep
It is recommended to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. When people are stressed, they usually struggle to sleep well at night. However, this can only add on to stress because it can cause problems such as mood swings or low concentration. Everyone needs sufficient sleep daily in order for them to feel well-rested.
2. Limit caffeine intake
Most people turn to energy drinks or coffee when they are short on sleep and need "energy" to continue their day. These drinks are filled with caffeine. Ironically, caffeine makes it harder for people to sleep, leading to a greater chance of a stressful night. Instead of energy drinks or coffee, try herbal teas or warm milky drinks as they are lower in caffeine and can help you sleep better at night.
3. Keep up with physical activity
Exercise is beneficial to humans in so many ways that it is no surprise that it can aid in coping with stress. While keeping you in shape, exercising helps relieve stress by increasing the production of endorphins in your brain.
4. Be organized
Organizing your time will greatly help in increasing your concentration and attention span. Keeping track of any deadlines or important dates will make it easier for you to have a balanced schedule to give yourself some rest time. You can easily start organizing your time with a planner or calendar!
5. Get help if needed
Often, it may be harder for some people to handle stress on their own. If needed, reach out to someone that you can talk to so they can help you manage your stress. It can be anyone that you would like help from such as a family member, friend, counselor, or a therapist.
These are just some of the ways to cope with stress but there are still a numerous amount of ways. Remember everyone deals with stress differently whether its listening to music, taking a walk outside or even reading! After reading this, take some time for yourself and think about what you can do to keep your mind and body prepared for stress. Being stressed in life is common, but long-term stress can have many negative effects that you would definitely want to avoid.
References
Harvard Health Publishing. (2021, February 15). Protect your brain from stress. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/protect-your-brain-from-stress
Mental Health Foundation. (2021, September 17). Stress. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stress
Stress-How to cope. (n.d). Rethink Mental Illness. https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-illness/wellbeing-physical-health/stress-how-to-cope/
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