02 Apr Stressed Out? How to De-Stress for Better Health

In case you didn’t know, April is National Stress Awareness Month – which is interesting since so many of us are usually a little aware that we’re stressed out a lot of the time. Since research has established the link between stress and health, it’s important to find ways to reduce stress in your life and improve both your health and quality of life. This May we’ll also feature a series of blog articles on supporting your mental health in observance of May as National Mental Health Month, so stay tuned! Here are some basic tips to keep stress (and your health) in check.

Stress Can Really Bring You Down

According to the Mayo Clinic, whether you’re under deadlines at work, frazzled with juggling a career and family, going through a tough time at home, lost a loved one, are experiencing the worry of injury/illness, or just haven’t made time to take care of yourself, stress can take a physical and emotional toll. Stress can lead to symptoms like:

Headache

Fatigue

Muscle pain

Sleep problems

Chest pain

GI symptoms

Anxiety

Irritation or anger

Sadness or depression

Feeling overwhelmed or unmotivated

Stress Busters

Here are some quick (if not always easy) proven stress-relief techniques:

Meditation: Finding a quiet place to practice mindful meditation, even by using a free app on your phone, can reduce your stress levels. Regular meditation has actually been shown to change the “wiring” in your brain!

Unplug: It’s no secret that being connected 24/7 can be both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes, taking a self-imposed break from your social media, email, and anything that isn’t absolutely mandatory can be a real breath of fresh air.

Exercise: You didn’t think you’d escape without hearing about exercise, did you? Our bodies are meant to move, and tend to get cranky when they don’t. You don’t have to go all-out; even 30 minutes of walking can be enough to help reduce your stress. Of course, if you’re extra wound up, taking a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) class might be just the thing to sweat out your irritability! Plenty of people use their fitness routine as a stress-relief tactic, and there are enough different options for you to find one that fits your needs.

What if you’re stressed because you can’t participate in the active life you’d rather be living? A lot of relief can come with taking charge and making a choice to pursue wellness. Instead of accepting stress and poorer health as your new normal, go after improvement the same way you go after your other fitness goals. By scheduling an appointment with a physical therapist, you can receive one-on-one assessment of your condition and recommendations for treatment. Your physical therapist is typically a doctor in a specific discipline, who specializes in the musculoskeletal system. S/he will also develop a custom treatment plan that may consist of both manual therapy as well as home exercises for you to perform. Thanks to direct access, you can make an appointment directly with a physical therapist, without a referral. Your PT’s office will work with your general-practitioner doctor’s office and insurance, should a referral and more visits become necessary.

If you’re ready to take charge of your wellness, Body One is ready to help! We’re locally-owned and operated, with four locations serving Central Indiana: North Indianapolis, South Indianapolis, Fishers, and Zionsville. Don’t wait to start living the life you deserve, call Body One today and let one of our talented, caring physical therapists get you on the road to recovery!