Stress can manifest itself in many ways and negatively affect your mood, body, and behavior. Read the information below about the symptoms of stress, and see if any apply to you. Even if you are not feeling stress now, try applying one or more of the stress management techniques to your daily routine as a preventive measure.
Stress can affect a person’s mood by creating a sense of anxiety or of feeling overwhelmed. One might also feel restless, irritable, or angry. Stress can bring about feelings of depression, sadness, or a lack of motivation or focus.
The body can react to stress in many ways. Headaches, chest pain and muscle aches, and an upset stomach are common. A person might feel fatigued or experience sleep disorders, like insomnia. Stress can also affect a person’s sex drive.
Aggressive driving and road rage are examples of stress manifesting itself in one’s driving behavior. A stressed person may also respond by overeating or undereating, withdrawing socially, and having angry outbursts. Abusing drugs, alcohol, or tobacco are other negative behaviors stress can trigger.
Try to remain positive. Accept what is out of your control, and let it go. When sharing your views, be assertive, but avoid becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
Ride a bike, go on a hike, walk around the block, or jog. A fit body helps fight stress better. Exercise also allows the body to release endorphins, which help reduce stress and ward off anxiety and depression.
Sleep is essential for recovering from stressful events. Develop a pre-sleep routine to get your body on a regular sleep schedule and remove distractions such as electronics. Avoid heavy meals and excessive fluids an hour before bedtime. Try relaxation techniques, like yoga, meditation, or tai-chi.
Do not rely on compulsive behaviors, such as drugs or excessive alcohol consumption, to reduce stress. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals. Treat your body like a machine, and feed it right so it can run at peak performance.
Find a new hobby or get involved in groups with similar interests. Activities are great opportunities to seek out new friendships. Reach out to family and friends for a good laugh or support in a tough time.
30 Safe Truck driving behaviors to combat Aggressive driving. |
Note: These lists are not intended to be all-inclusive.
The information in this article is provided as a courtesy of Great West Casualty Company and is part of the Value-Driven® Company program. Value-Driven Company was created to help educate and inform insureds so they can make better decisions, build a culture that values safety, and manage risk more effectively. To see what additional resources Great West Casualty Company can provide for its insureds, please contact your safety representative, or click below to find an agent.
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