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Stress

When you experience long-term stress, your levels of a hormone called cortisol increase. This increase in cortisol weakens your immune system making it easier for you to get sick.
 
How stress can affect you:
  • Headaches
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Jaw pain
  • Changes in appetite
  • Frequent mood swings
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling overwhelmed
Some ways to reduce stress:
  • Recognize your stress triggers. What situations make you feel physically and mentally agitated. Once you know these, try to avoid situations when it’s reasonable, and cope when you cannot.
  • Manage your time. Prioritizing your activities can help you manage your time better. Make day-to-day schedules that help keep you on track and not feel overwhelmed by everyday tasks and deadlines.
  • Practice relaxation. Deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation are great ways to calm yourself. Taking a break to refocus can have benefits beyond the immediate moment.
  • Set aside time you yourself. Schedule something in your day/week that you enjoy doing and makes you feel good. It may be reading a book, going to the movies, making a homemade meal, or taking a walk.
  • Eat well. Eating unprocessed foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fresh fruit) is the foundation for a healthy body and healthy mind. Easting well has benefits of stabilizing your mood.
  • Get enough sleep. Symptoms of some mental health conditions, like mania and bipolar disorder, can be triggered by getting too little sleep.
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs. These DO NOT actually reduce stress. In fact, they often worsen it.
  • Talk to someone. Whether it be a counselor, your Athletic Trainer, family, or a fried, talking can help relieve the stress of a situation.
For more information: https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Individuals-with-Mental-Illness/Taking-Care-of-Your-Body/Managing-Stress