Jessica Shawncroft
The Paw Print
We all know stress isn’t good for us; the ramifications on our physical and emotional state can last a lifetime! So what can you do to limit stress? I’m sure we all have thoughts of Spring Break. With it only being two weeks away, who wouldn’t? But before Spring Break we have awful midterms and presentations to deliver! Let’s see how stress affects our bodies and what we can do about it!
Stress, whether it is short term or long term, can be unpleasant at best! A little bit of stress can be good for memory and motivation, however stress is also linked to a lot of doctor visits (about 80%) and serious illnesses!
If you’ve ever taken a psychology class then you’ve heard of fight or flight. Fight or Flight is our body’s way to protect us; either we get ready for action, or we’re running the other way. Our body will turn out hormones and raise our blood pressure and blood sugar! This can give us a burst of energy, but it also can be harmful to our bodies. Also, when you’re under stress, you tend to have more cravings; junk food, yes please! This also means our bodies store more fat. A solution here is to get out and exercise, which also is proven to reduce stress. It’s a win – win! Stress can also cause insomnia. Your mind is up thinking about all the things you still have to do, while your body is ready to hit the hay! It’s said that shutting phones/electronics off a half hour before bed can help your mind get ready to rest, so try that! Also try yoga or exercising during the day; this will exhaust your body and lower your stress levels. Another unfortunate side effect of stress is severe hair loss. This is caused by either your hair falling out, or you deciding to pull your hair out from a disorder caused by stress. Your body also has a hard time digesting food when it is put under stress. Heartburn, stomach cramping, and diarrhea can be caused by stress. This can lead to irritable bowel syndrome! Our skin suffers a lot when we’re under stress too. Acne is unfortunate and a lot of us already suffer from it. Stress just makes it worse. An increase in our hormones due to stress causes more acne to pop up. Stress also causes back pain; stress can set off acute attack of back pain as well as contribute to ongoing back pain. It’s another usage of the fight or flight response, tensing our muscles to get ready for action! Exercise is another great solution to this, especially yoga or Pilates.
Well, stress doesn’t do any good for our bodies, or our brains! Try and get ahead on the presentations and papers so you can spend more time studying for tests. Also, try focusing on Spring Break; it’s right around the corner and sure to be stress free!
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