Stress

Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. But if stress happens too often or lasts too long, it can have negative effects.

Stress can be linked to symptoms such as headaches, upset stomach, back pain and trouble sleeping. It can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off disease.

It’s important to figure out what causes stress for you. You may not be able to get rid of stress, but you can look for ways to lower it. You might try some of these ideas:

• Find better ways to cope. Be honest about what works and what does not.
• Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat well. Don’t smoke.
• Try out new ways of thinking. When you find yourself starting to worry, try to stop the thoughts. Learn to say “no.”

Check out the following Best Health offerings to help you manage your stress.

• Stress Management Health Coaching: Work one-on-one with a Best Health Coach.
• Online Introduction to Stress Management learning module: Learn ways to reduce, channel or cope with stress in your life.
• Online Mindfulness learning module: Hear about decreasing stress through mindfulness, presented by our Best Health team.