Are you tired of the pressures at the office, at home, and the responsibilities that are very heavy and ultimately cause you stress? Know how it affects your emotional and physical health, and how to deal with it, yuk!
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), stress is an expression of the body's natural instinct to protect itself. While the stress response can alert us to urgent dangers, such as a fast-approaching car, prolonged stress can negatively affect your physical and emotional health, Ladies.
Read also: 7 Herbal Teas That You Should Try While Experiencing Fatigue and Stress
"Our stress response has been honed for millions of years as a protective mechanism," says Paul J. Rosch, MD. Paul is an American Institute of Stress (AIS) and a professor of clinical medicine at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. "Our ancestors had no problem when they encountered a tiger whose fangs were sharp. But now, the problem is different, we are stressed when faced by traffic jams, or many other things. And our bodies respond in the same way that high blood pressure, stroke, or skin diseases like spotty and ulcers." How does stress affect a woman's mind and body?
Although in many ways men and women can react similarly to stress, there still seems to be some difference between men and women in dealing with stress. Although the mechanism is unclear, and research is still debated, there are several studies showing that differences in the brain and body can make women more physically and emotionally sensitive to certain types of stress.
"Women tend to react to stress differently than men," says Dr. Rosch. "Women don't respond with actions like fight or flight- they're more likely to negotiate."
In previous studies, psychologists called this a"tend and befriend"response or more or less "keeping and making friends." This may be the case, according to the scientists' theory, because evolutionarily adaptively, women are more likely to protect their offspring rather than attack or escape from predators. They then look for the same social group friends to strengthen their defenses(befriend).
Some consider the tend and befriendresponse to be mediated by oxytocin. Oxytocin is an anti-stress hormone that women produce during childbirth, breastfeeding, and in both sexes during orgasm and other moments in human relationships. This hormone can help women more than men, according to Rosch.
Studies have shown that frequent hugs from a partner can increase oxytocin levels and lower blood pressure levels in women. Research has also found that women who had positive contact with their partners before stressful situations showed lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and lower heart rates. How does stress affect women's health?
The specific challenges women face at home, in society, and at work can increase the amount of stress you experience.
"The stress you face may vary. But if you're stressed about your job, your kids, your neighbors, and your marriage issues all at once, that's a big deal," said Lori Heim M.D., a former president and chairwoman of the AAFP and a doctor at Scottish Hospital in Laurinburg, North Carolina. "In women, I see this in changes in menstrual patterns. Nothing else happens except a huge increase in stress, and suddenly, hair starts to fall out or has menstrual disorders and it's all due to stress factors."
According to the National Women's Health Information Center, the effects of stress on a woman's physical and emotional health can range from headaches to stomach problems and back pain. Specific stress effects include a variety of things, Ladies.Stomach Problems
Stress can make sufferers run away from foods that feel calming like junk food. Or on the contrary, your stomach feels upset so that you do not feel hungry. Common stress-related stomach problems — including cramping, bloating, heartburn, and according to a study published in November 2017 in the journal Frontiers in System Neuroscience — can even result in irritable bowel syndrome, which affects more women than men. Depending on how you respond, this can lead to weight loss or even weight gain.
Photo: alodokter.com Skin Reactial
Stress can also affect reactions on the skin, such as acne, and even hives in some people. Emotional State
When you experience stress, the mood becomes unstable, sometimes melow and suddenly angry. But it can also cause more serious mental problems such as depression. This condition will cause your emotional health to be disrupted. Sleep problems
Sleep problems are common in women who suffer from stress. This is very contrary because a good night's sleep can help relieve stress. Difficulty concentrating
Stress makes it difficult for sufferers to focus and be efficient in responsibilities at home or in the office. And it can aggravate your problems if the stress comes from your work in the first place. Heart Problems
Stress can negatively impact the entire cardiovascular system (diseases related to the heart and blood pressure). Although stress doesn't directly cause high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attacks, stress can contribute to it. Decreases the Immune Response
One of the more complicated physical reactions to stress is the body's reduced ability to fight disease, be it a cold or a recurrence of a chronic condition. How Do Women Lower Their Stress Levels?
Robert Epstein, PhD, senior psychology researcher at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology in Vista, California conducted a survey of 3,000 people. He found that 25 percent of happiness depends on how well you handle the stress you're dealing with. And what's the most important stress management strategy he's paying attention to? Plan. Or anticipate what makes you stressed and have ways to reduce the tension caused by stress itself. These are some ways to control stress that you can try, Ladies Improve diet
By eating a balanced diet and avoiding junk food,you can improve your physical well-being and automatically improve your emotional health as well. Take time to exercise
"We know that exercise is a phenomenal way to deal with stress and depression," says Dr. Heim. Research also shows that we are active, can create enthusiasm with increased hormones and neurochemicals that can improve your mood.
Photo: cigna.co.id Find a fun way to relax
Connecting with family, friends and people you love makes you enjoy being there. Find and do the hobbies you like the most. A study published in 2013 in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry has linked activities that require focus such as drawing, crafts or even improving the home, to reduce stress. Other popular stress relievers include yoga, meditation and tai chi.
Also read: Fight or Flight? Manage This Stress Response with 3 Easy Steps
However, if you feel overwhelmed by the stress you face and the adverse effects on your health, discuss with an experienced doctor about how to deal with it. You may find new ways to control your own emotions. Or you may find therapy with a mental health professional will further help you to control everything.
Yuk, Ladies. Know what factors can trigger your stress and how you plan to overcome it later.
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