Over the past few weeks we’ve talked about blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, maintaining a healthy waistline, fatty liver disease, the benefits of walking and why a good night’s sleep is one of the best investments you can make in your health.
So next I’d like to talk about something we all experience.
Stress.
If I asked you whether you’ve ever felt stressed, I suspect almost every reader would put their hand up.
In many ways, stress has become such a normal part of modern life that we almost accept it as unavoidable.
Work deadlines.
Traffic jams.
Financial worries.
Looking after children.
Caring for elderly parents.
Relationship problems.
The list goes on.
A little stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, it’s part of being human.
When faced with danger or a challenge, our bodies release hormones that prepare us to react. Our heart beats faster, our breathing becomes quicker and our muscles are ready for action. Thousands of years ago, this response helped our ancestors escape real physical dangers.
Today, however, most of our stresses aren’t lions chasing us across a field.
They’re unpaid bills, work emails, family responsibilities and the constant pressure of trying to keep up with modern life.
The problem is that our bodies often react in exactly the same way.
The stressful meeting at work may be over in an hour, but our minds continue replaying the conversation long after we’ve gone home.
We lie awake thinking about what we should have said.
We wake up already worrying about tomorrow.
Day after day, our bodies remain in a state of tension.
One thing I’ve noticed during my years as a pharmacist is that people rarely come into the pharmacy saying, “I’m stressed.”
Instead they describe headaches, poor sleep, tiredness, stomach discomfort, muscle tension, palpitations or simply feeling “not quite right.”
Sometimes, after a gentle conversation, it becomes clear that stress is playing a much bigger role than they realised.
That doesn’t mean the symptoms are “all in the mind.”
Far from it.
Stress produces real physical changes in the body.
It can make existing health problems harder to control. Blood pressure may rise. Blood sugar becomes more difficult to manage. Some people eat more when they’re stressed, while others lose their appetite altogether.
Many also exercise less, sleep poorly and rely on convenience foods because they feel they have no time or energy to cook.
It’s easy to see how one problem leads to another.
Stress also affects the way we think.
Small problems suddenly feel enormous.
We become impatient with the people we care about most.
We lose concentration.
Simple decisions become surprisingly difficult.
One thing I think we should stop doing is treating stress as a sign of weakness.
It isn’t.
Feeling overwhelmed from time to time doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
It means you’re human.
The important question isn’t whether stress exists.
It’s how we respond to it.
We often search for complicated solutions when the most helpful ones are surprisingly ordinary.
A short walk after work.
Turning off the phone for an hour.
Talking to a trusted friend.
Spending time with family.
Reading a book.
Saying no to one more unnecessary commitment.
These aren’t dramatic changes, but together they can make a real difference.
I’ve also learned that worrying and planning are not the same thing.
Planning helps solve problems.
Worry simply goes round and round in circles without taking us anywhere.
Sometimes asking yourself, “Can I do anything about this today?” is enough to separate the two.
If the answer is yes, take one small step.
If the answer is no, perhaps it’s time to let your mind rest until tomorrow.
Of course, there are times when stress becomes much more than everyday pressure.
If you’re constantly feeling anxious, struggling to cope, losing interest in life, withdrawing from family and friends or finding that your emotions are affecting your work or relationships, please don’t struggle in silence.
Speaking to your GP or another healthcare professional is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.
Mental health deserves exactly the same attention as physical health.
We wouldn’t ignore chest pain for months.
We shouldn’t ignore emotional pain either.
One thing I’ve become more convinced of over the years is that good health isn’t simply about living longer.
It’s about enjoying the years we have.
That means looking after our minds as carefully as we look after our hearts.
Because the two are connected far more closely than many people realise.
We all have busy lives.
There will always be another email to answer, another job to finish and another responsibility waiting for us tomorrow.
But your health is the foundation that allows you to care for everyone else.
Looking after yourself isn’t selfish.
It’s one of the most important responsibilities you have.
Until the next time, stay healthy, stay informed and, above all, take good care of yourself.
The Daily Durian (zaynp100@yahoo.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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