What is stress?
Stress literally means tension and puts the body in a state of readiness. This is caused by the hormone adrenaline and ensures that the body prepares itself for action. This manifests itself, for example, through an increased heart rate, faster breathing, and tense muscles.
Consequence of stress
Stress can have both positive and negative effects. Positive stress helps in accomplishing tasks and defending against threatening situations. However, prolonged stress can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, palpitations, muscle pain, and even heart attacks.
Tips against stress
1. Reduce stress factors:
- Use aids, or call on a third party
- Adapt your home, even small adjustments (removing carpets, rearranging furniture, etc.) are often a great help
- Avoid frustrating situations for you; wheelchair users should check the accessibility beforehand
2. Increase your resistance to stress:
- Ensure you get enough sleep and eat healthily
- Ventilate problems with your confidants or friends
- Relax at regulars intervals by resting, meditating, reading, etc.
- Seek out silence
- Solve problems quickly and, if necessary, involve a third party
- Find out what causes you stress and try to avoid those situations.
3. Social contact:
- Keep in touch with friends and family
- Share your stress experiences and learn from others’ experiences
- Maintain and expand your social network
- Ask for help if you can’t handle it anymore
4. Night’s rest:
- Ensure you get enough sleep and, in this, follow your own rhythm
- Avoid alcohol and coffee before bedtime
- Relax before bedtime
- Provide a cool and fresh bedroom
5. Breathing:
- Breathe deeply in and out to relax
- Take a short walk outdoors
6. Lifestyle:
- Relax with therapies such as yoga, meditation, and massages
- Take a relaxing bath
- Use aromatherapy
- Make it cosy at home, for example with plants, flowers, etc.
- Relativising and laughing is healthy
- Positive thinking helps against stress