Strategies to Relieve Physical Symptoms
The good news is, once you realize that your physical symptoms could be due to stress, there are things you can do to relieve them! Physical symptoms of stress are best treated with stress relief or stress management. For example, if you are having headaches, then pain medicine will provide temporary relief. However, this is not a permanent solution because the cause of the headache was not physical, but psychological.
Using stress relief skills will reduce your body’s reaction to the stress. As a result, your physical symptoms may also be relieved!
A nice, warm bath or shower can relieve pain or tension in your muscles, headaches, and stomach aches. As a bonus is that a warm bath or shower can be very relaxing.
Taking a walk can help clear headaches by giving you some fresh air. Finding a nice walk that’s quiet will help you too relax and can also relieve muscle pain or tension as well as stomach issues
If you are feeling tension or are having pain in your back, neck, shoulders, etc. you should take a moment to relax your muscles. Start in a quiet environment where you find yourself comfortable. Then close your eyes and breathe deeply to relax. Then take notice of all the areas of your body that are tense or in pain. One by one focus on tightening then relaxing those muscles until your body is in complete relaxation. Notice the difference between how you feel when your muscles are tight compared to when you purposefully release them. You can look for CDs that help you with muscle relaxation or you can try other relaxation techniques. Check the Relaxation Station for more help!
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and physical symptoms. Exercise releases feel-good chemicals in your brain, which will help you to feel better psychologically. It can also be a way to release tension that is stored up in your body. Exercise can also help with problems such as muscle pain or tension because you are giving those areas a nice workout. The chemicals produced by working out can also help clear pain from headaches.
Stress can affect your sleep patterns… and poor sleep patterns can cause stress... It’s a viscous cycle. Plenty of quality sleep helps your body recharge and gives your body the strength it needs to deal with stress. A healthy diet also helps to relieve stress. You may want to check out some foods that have been shown to reduce stress. Sleeping and eating well will boost your immune system and help you to feel refreshed and confident.
You might find that you’re being stressed because you feel like you’re constantly doing things without ever taking a break! Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, use that time to do something that you enjoy whether it is playing video games, listening to music, reading a book, or simply lying on your bed to let your mind wander. You’ll probably find that it’s difficult to feel stressed when you're doing something that makes you happy. Taking a break may also help symptoms such as headaches and migraines.
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