April is Stress Awareness Month, and the spotlight is on the toll that stress can take on our lives. In the hustle of our daily routines, stress often becomes the unwelcome guest that refuses to leave. Discussing the gravity of this silent disruptor, humor author Paul Osincup explained the real challenge we face, "It's keeping our capacity higher and maybe our demands lower so that that stress threshold doesn't get as intense," according to a KEN5 report.
The beast of burden manifests in various guises – emotionally as agitation, frustration, and a feeling of being overwhelmed. On the physical front, it can result in headaches, an upset stomach, chest pain, even insomnia and frequent illnesses. Behaviorally, stress often leads to either a loss of appetite, or an uptick in alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and caffeine consumption. Starlite Randall, a clinical social worker reminded us that simple activities like having a coffee and stepping outside can reset our circadian rhythm, she told KEN5.
A staggering 74% of people felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope, a YouGov study reported. The numbers also suggest a generational divide, with only 30% of older individuals compared to 7% of young adults never feeling unable to cope. The underlining message? Stress does not discriminate but it might evolve with time or the lack thereof.
Randall advises focusing on what we can control – our consumption, our media intake and our social circles. "You can control what you consume," Randall said, "You can control what you're watching. Control the things you can control, not the outer world of, what you can't control. You can control who you're communicating with, who your community of friends are," according to an interview with KEN5.
And if laughter is the best medicine, Osincup may have hit the nail on the head when he said, "Any moment we're giving ourselves to laugh or find a little humor in something, is a moment that we aren't stressing out." So next time stress comes knocking, maybe it's worth trying to crack a smile – a potential first step toward reclaiming the equilibrium in your daily grind. And for those times when work becomes too much, Randall suggests stepping away from the desk and finding a quiet place to practice mindfulness and relaxation.
