We are about to reach the end of this year. Hopefully all this lockdown and quarantine will end with the year as well, but we never know. Things are so chaotic this year that almost anything and everything gives us stress. “Stress is a killer,” says therapist Beverley Hills. “I look upon it like a jellyfish that has loads of tendrils. Stress has loads of tendrils and it bleeds into so many different areas of our lives.”
So let’s see what are some common and not so common symptoms of stress:
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Dark circles and baggy eyes
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
Along with all this stress can disturb your day to day life as well. You might get stressed out or tired just by doing the simplest of the tasks.
What to do about it?
Neil Shah, chief de-stressing officer at non-profit organization The Stress Management Society, says solutions to stress are personal. “Your reaction should be tailored to the individual symptom,” he says. If, for example, you find it hard to sleep, focus on developing a well-planned wind-down routine, and avoid stimulating foods and drinks containing caffeine, sugar and chocolate after 4pm.
Exercise and meditation are yet another way to reduce stress. Just like exercise is a workout for your body in the same way meditation is a workout for your mind. Meditating for only 10 minutes or 5 minutes in a day can improve your mood and concentration. Exercising for 30 to 40 minutes in the day will also do the same. We cannot change the situation in front of ourselves but we can change how we react to it.
