April is Stress Awareness Month

This article is written by Sky Corbett-Methot, Yoga to Cope’s Director of Holistic Health. Sky is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, CYA-RYT 500-hour Hatha yoga and meditation instructor, and a certified prenatal/postnatal yoga instructor. She combines all of these domains to teach tools to help her clients live their best life.

Last month we explored 3 Holistic Ways to Reduce Your Stress, click the link to that blog for a refresher on a few quick tips as it compliments this blog post!

Photo by @dingzeyuli

Photo by @dingzeyuli

Over here at Yoga to Cope, we wanted to take this #wellnesswednesday to explore what the intention is behind Stress Awareness Month.

This has been held in April since 1992. The purpose of this month is to spotlight the global impact of stress. So lets delve deeper, shall we? Did you know it is estimated that 90% of illnesses are connected to stress levels? That my friends, is an evident problem and is one that needs to be recognized, addressed, and controlled in our society.

This weeks blog is centered around the impact of stress. Lets break the stigma surrounding stress, and create a conversation about a mindset that leads to break down and destruction.

What is stress? According to the U.K.’s Mental Health Foundation, stress can be defined as “the degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable.”

Now this can be caused by a multitude of reasons such as: external stimuli seen in our environment, relationships, finances, occupational, situational, and/or internal stimuli such as genetic and emotional factors. Most of the time is a combination of many different facets contributing to how one may feel or experience stress.

Stress is a form of pressure, and when it compounds it causes dysregulation in the mind and the body. Stress is a major contributor to dysregulation of the nervous system which causes a cascade of negative emotional and physical reactions. The HPA Axis (hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal Axis), is the the part of the endocrine system that results in the secretion of cortisol and adrenaline. Repeated release of these hormones causes the body to be hyperactive, overstimulated, and eventually break down.

Here is an analogy to better understand how stress breaks down the body: when you are stressed you can imagine that the gas pedal of your nervous system is on full throttle…. eventually you will run out of gas and burn out…. When stress is improperly handled, its not like you can stop at the gas station and fuel up, it depletes which then breaks down the engine (your body).

The effects of stress are unique to the individual, but impact the entire system, the entire BODY. Signs and symptoms of stress may include: headaches, digestive upsets (diarrhea, bloating, IBS, IBD), mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, panic disorder), sleep disturbances (insomnia), weaken the immune system, disturb the endocrine system (hormones), this includes menstrual cycle, increase blood pressure, influence fertility in both males and females, influence muscles and create soreness, and the list goes on!

Stress can literally impact every system of the human body and yet it is an universal experience. This human response and its negative impact on the nervous system has been studied for 50 years (Thierry et al., 1968[115]).

Some studies have shown that stress has many effects on the human nervous system and can cause structural changes in different parts of the brain (Lupien et al., 2009[65]). Chronic stress can lead to atrophy of the brain mass and decrease the weight of the brain (Sarahian et al., 2014[100]).

It has become apparent that stress influences ALOT of people, and IMPACTS the entire body. So now lets explore some coping mechanisms to help lessen stress.

  • Breath: just becoming aware of your breath is you practicing YOGA. This allows the nervous system a moment to ground itself.

  • Mindfulness: become attentive to how you feel. Is there a way to lessen your internal/external stress load?

  • Eat regularly: fuel yourself and opt for nourishing foods. As your system is overworked, this is a way to support yourself.

  • Take breaks when you are able to: even 1-5 minutes outside can truly change your mindset and lower your stress levels.

  • Recognize how you feel: seek help when you can, it is okay to lean on those in your support network.

  • Communicate with your loved ones, and lean on them where you can.

  • Enhance your self-care toolbox: check out our recorded meditations to help you connect with your breath.

  • Exercise regularly — the intention is not to over do it as that further drains your body, but rather find a gentle movement that allows you to connect to yourself.

  • Avoid stimulants when/where you can: stimulants amps up your bodies experience to stress. Yes this includes coffee, energy drinks, etc.

At the end of the day, stress is exhausting. We invite you to use this month as a way to reflect on your emotions, your habits, behaviours, and assess your levels of stress. Use this as a way to regain connection, certainty, and control of your inner world since its impossible to control the external world. This introspection may be a great way to enhance your stress-awareness toolbox and learn strategies to mitigate it.

Stress Awareness Month Resources:

Sky Corbett-Methot