Today I am starting a series that is quite personal to me. I know that I’m not alone when I say being a working mom who wants to be active with her children can be quite stressful. The laundry never ends. The children insist on eating dinner…………every day. Between work and home demands, there never seems to be any time for myself. Am I right? I know I’m not alone in these feelings, but many times it feels like I am. I figure if I feel this way then maybe some of you do also. In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m kicking off my “Stressed Out” series. Here we will explore our stress and tips for managing that stress. Let’s share this journey to better mental health and a life of intention together.
Sadly, stress is part of every woman’s life. At some point, everyone experiences stress. Physical, emotional, and other types of stress take their toll on our minds and bodies. That’s why sleep is so important. Sleep is an important element in controlling stress.
Our bodies use sleep to restore and recover. While we sleep our bodies carry out important restorative functions. Our brains rid themselves of toxins and sort out the events that happened throughout the day. Our bodies repair and restore themselves as well. It’s pretty amazing how much our minds and bodies remain active even when we are sleeping.
Stress affects the mind and body
Stress takes its toll on our minds and bodies. Stress causes the release of cortisol, a powerful hormone that triggers the fight or flight response in our bodies. This hormone can cause overwhelming sensations in the body, raise blood pressure, and cause anxious feelings. Sound sleep helps reduce the levels of cortisol and balance the chemistry in the brain and body. Chronic stress without adequate sleep can raise your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Stress affects our mood
Stress affects our mood. When we are stressed, we tend to over or under-react. This can lead to an onslaught of problems. Living in a heightened sense of worry or anxiety can result in eating too much or too little, emotional outbursts or withdrawal, or a wide range of other behaviors. After a long day of stress, the best thing to regulate mood swings is a restful night’s sleep.
Stress affects our relationships
Stress changes how we engage with other people. Being worried, anxious, or overwhelmed makes it harder to be present and engage positively with other people. From co-workers to family, stress can fracture relationships if we aren’t careful. Being able to unplug from people and take some time for yourself can help. Sleeping provides a significant amount of time to recharge and get ready to face the world again. Even the act of relaxing in bed prior to sleeping can aid in rebuilding your energy and make it easier to get along with others.
Sleep is the antidote for stress
Sleep is a wonderful remedy for a stressful day. Relaxing in the comfort of your bed and letting go of the worries of the world can give you a new perspective, renew your spirit and energy. Sleep can be the escape you need from the pressures going on and give you uninterrupted time to recover. Making sleep a priority, including naps when necessary, can help your mind and body recover from stress and manage difficult situations easier.
Ok ladies, now it’s our turn to chat about this and connect with each other.
I really want to hear what you think about this new series. Are you stressed out and ready to start this journey with me? What is the one thing that stresses you out the most? How is your sleep? Are you able to get a good night’s sleep or are thoughts racing through your head all night? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and stories. Leave me a comment below. The comments are right below the subscription box.
If you want to join this journey to better mental health and a life of intention, click here to get your free Self-Care Mental Health Journal Prompts or fill out the form below. Print the journal pages out, put them in a binder and take a little time to go over the prompts this week. There will be more prompts and information to follow. The best way to deal with stress is to have a friend. Let’s do this together.
Until we connect again,
Christina
Click here for the next in the series, 3 Apps That Are Helping Your Stressed Out Friends Sleep Better
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