It starts with a headache – you can feel your shoulders stiffen and get tense, but you shake it off and carry on. Later that day, you once again feel your body is tired, you become irritable and snap at a colleague for no reason.
After much apologising you break down into a fit of tears whilst struggling to grasp what is happening. Why are you losing control?
It’s simple really… you are showing the classic signs of stress, tension and fatigue. These effects of stress are not uncommon in the work place as a result of the hectic and demanding lives we lead.
Sadly, we tend to keep pushing aside these feelings and we then experience physical manifestations of overload, which can result in rather drastic and even life-threatening diseases such as anxiety, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. If you can identify with the situation as described above, you are a definite candidate for a visit to the doctor for a health check.
Here are a few ways to manage your stress and come out tops:
– Healthy eating
– Exercise
– Limit caffeine and alcohol, as they affect the release of melatonin (melatonin counters some of the negative effects of cortisol), causing a relative reduction in melatonin secretion during the night when a spike is usually seen.
– Therapies such as acupuncture, massage therapy, relaxation, yoga and even music therapy have shown success in stress management.
Several published studies suggest that owning a pet is associated with improved physical and psychological health.
If you feel stressed visit www.healthrenewal.co.za or contact one of the branches in Durban on 0861 SKIN SA for more information.