Recently I heard about a family who made a 9-1-1 telephone call because they were stuck in a corn maze and couldn't get out of it! Imagine wandering around and racing the clock to get out of the maze before sundown. Now that's stress!
Kids especially enjoy participating in the life-size mazes, such as those made with corn stalks. Sometimes they even make it a game and try to race others through the maze. It is fun as long as it is a game, and not a real life situation, racing through daily activities with stress levels that impacts our health.
Do you feel like you are racing the clock, running from meeting to meeting, dealing with finances, deadlines, friends and family, endless household and business duties? If you feel like the poor rat in a rat race or someone racing through the corn maze, then you are not alone. The majority of us are running the rat race, and maintaining considerable stress. Is stress really, that bad? How do you know if you have too much stress? Perhaps you may ask what you can really do about it.
Some of the symptoms your stress may be over the top include:
* Anxiety
* Various body pains including headaches
* Shoulder or neck tension
* GI or bowel symptoms
* Depression
* Fatigue
* High blood pressure
* Trouble sleeping
* Irritable relationships
* Weight gain or loss
Uncontrolled stress over the long haul can cause cardiovascular damage and other critical problems with your health. Keep in mind that if you have any of the above symptoms, it is always best to check with your primary care provider about it. Here are some of the common tips you can use when dealing with everyday stressors:
* Work on solving the smaller problems, which ultimately provides you with encouragement to move forward with the larger problems.
* Talk with a therapist, clergy or trusted confidant who will give you encouragement
* Make a list or set realistic daily goals
* Simplify your life or reorganize your priorities
* Maintain physical activity or exercise on a daily basis
* Good nutrition
* Sleep 7-8 hours, daily. Go to bed at a reasonable hour, even if you just lie in bed and rest your body, avoiding the computer or TV at that time because it interferes with your natural circadian rhythms and sleep hormones.
* Do something good for yourself, participation in sports or a hobby.
* Positive self talk
* Use humor to help lighten up, and practice smiling. (Feelings often follow our actions).
* Meditation or prayer
