Whether you are experiencing short-form stress like the commute, or a major light event like losing your job, stress can have an impact on our bodies in more ways than we realize. When we think about the little things that we do when we feel stressed, it’s these little things that over time can have a massive impact on our bodies and minds. So with this in mind, what are these little things that we need to be aware of?
Grinding Our Teeth
You may wake up in the morning feeling like you’ve got an achy jaw. And this could very well be due to stress. When we are stressed we can subconsciously grind our teeth. If you wake up in the morning feeling like you’ve got some headache or your jaw hurts, it’s time to rectify this. It is always possible to go to an Invisalign dentist to get a retainer or something to hold your teeth in place but you can also get a mouth guard to stop you from chewing. Another important method can be to undergo mild hypnosis. There are little hypnosis courses available to stop little habits like this. There are so many out there that can stop you from smoking that it’s worth trying this as well.
Long-Term High Anxiety
This is something that we may not consider if we have little doses of stress. But if you find yourself constantly in fight or flight when you are in work, this adrenaline that is coursing through your body will raise blood pressure and your blood sugar. If we are constantly in this state, we will feel anxious but will likely find ourselves on blood pressure-lowering medication after a few years. Learning to turn off your fight or flight through certain practices such as deep breathing or mindfulness can help you to feel calmer in the long run. Nobody should feel that they are constantly in a state of anxiety, and if left too long it can have a devastating impact.
Weight Gain
If you feel stressed and your temptation is to turn to comfort foods this is one of the main reasons you can gain weight. But when we are stressed the hormone cortisol (also known as the stress hormone) can increase the amount of fat tissue that our body hangs onto. When we have a higher level of cortisol, this has been linked to increased abdominal fat. Having a good diet and also exercising regularly to keep your fat under control will be helpful. If you are feeling stressed all the time, one of the methods to try could be to manage your reaction to it. One approach that can help with this is cold showers. Cold showers increase the brown fat which can help you to lose weight while also being under a cold shower can help you to manage your stress better. After all, if that’s the worst thing you will have done during that day, it gives you an incredible sense of perspective.
If you feel stress impacting your life more than it should, it’s time to fix this. If you have any of these issues, now is the time to minimize this impact.
