WHAT IS STRESS?
Stress is a common and normal physical response to challenging or new situations and can look and feel different for different people. It has both psychological and physical aspects and can be triggered by different life experiences depending on the situation at hand, it can also be external (from environment, psychological or social situations) or internal for example, serious illness.
Stress can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, loss of appetite, increased blood pressure, chest pain, sexual dysfunction, and problems of sleeping. It can also cause or influence a broad range of physical health conditions such as heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome and mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.
STRESS AND TRAUMA
Trauma is any event that involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence has the potential to be traumatic. The trauma experienced can be of a physical and/or mental nature and not everyone will respond in the same way.
The most commonly known trauma-related mental illness is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is a condition that can be diagnosed when fear, anxiety and memories of a traumatic event persist. Sometimes, the feelings may last for a long time and interfere with how they COPE with everyday life, and sometimes also it may have some of the symptoms of PTSD in the first few days after the event. Most will recover by themselves or with the support of family and friends, while others may need professional help because it may lead to traumatic injury and the survivors often suffer from physical, emotional, cognitive, and financial consequences that can affect their lives, their families, and society.
TRAUMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS
Experience of trauma can contribute to the development of many different forms of mental illness such as depressive and anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance use disorders, and self-harm and suicide-related behaviours.
HOW TO COPE WITH ANXIETY AND STRESS
If you're stressed, whether by your job or something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause. It is said that problem well known is half way solved.
Most of victims feel like adopting some unhealthy habits like alcohol and smoking can help them cope, but such acts may add salt to injury also it may provide a short term relieve but at the end, its effects on health would be very worse.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
At COPE&LIVE Mental Health Awareness Foundation, we provide free services to help you manage your situation. We will still provide some of the keys to good stress management like; building emotional strength, being in control of your situation, having a good social network, and adopting a positive outlook. These may include the following:
1. Exercising
Exercise won't make your stress disappear, but it can reduce some of the emotional intensity that you're feeling, clearing your thoughts and letting you deal with your problems more calmly.
2. Get control of yourself
If you think you cannot do anything about your problem, your stress can get worse.
That feeling of loss of control is one of the main causes of stress and lack of wellbeing. The act of taking control is in itself empowering, and it's a crucial part of finding a solution that satisfies you and not someone else.
3. Try to connect with people
A good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your troubles and help you see things in a different way. The activities we do with positive friends can help us relax and relieve stress and may also help you find solutions to your problems.
4. Self-care is very important
Try to create time for yourself for you to refresh and spend enough time to do things we really enjoy and exchange courtesy with friends and relatives. It's important to take some time for socialising, relaxation or exercise.
5. Developing critical thinking.
Set goals that can accelerate your talent such as learning a new language or a new sport. This can help build confidence and deal with stress.
6. Avoid unhealthy habits
Try to avoid all unhealthy habits such as use of drugs, alcohol, smoking and caffeine as your ways of coping.
7. Try to be positive
Look for the positives in life, and things for which you're grateful. Try to be content with what you have and be grateful for being alive while other people you know were in the graves.
#treasureyourmentalhealth #problemsolving
Abubakar Magaji Yabo,
Northwest Director of Programs & Focal Person Sokoto State,
Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation.