Let's start off by saying this: 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭. I've been stressed as hell in my life, and so have you—and that's okay! Let's talk about how much is healthy, and when it really becomes a problem.
Our bodies are amazingly designed to deal with stress. We've all felt the fight-or-flight response: your heart pumps hard, you feel a surge of adrenaline, and you're ready to go! This is our instant way of prepping for physical danger. After the situation passes, the body comes back to a state of equilibrium, letting us feel relaxed, happy, hungry or sleepy. YAY body ⭐
But what happens when the danger isn't physical, but mental? And when this mental stress is continuous (hello, stressful job / crazy schedule / uncontrollable situations!)? Our body has the 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 stress response as it would if we had to run away from a rising tsunami wave.
When we just aren't able to relax, unwind and return to a restful state, it creates state of 𝕔𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 that can cause severe hormonal imbalances and lead to:
• Cortisol + insulin ➝ belly weight gain // diabetes
• Belly fat (visceral fat) ➝ heart disease // diabetes // cancer // brain degeneration
• Estrogen-progesterone imbalance ➝ irregular ovulation / periods
• Insomnia ➝ overeat + sugar cravings
Here are some signs of stress:
🔺PHYSICAL: Constant uneasiness, elevated heartbeat, increased sweating // Digestive discomfort as bloating or diarrhea // Lack of appetite or nausea // Overeating or binge eating // Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep // Weakened immunity and falling ill more often // Delayed or missed periods // Infertility
🔺MENTAL: Feeling anxious or experiencing panic attacks that can interfere with your daily functioning or decision making // Mental fatigue, forgetfulness, brain fog // Feeling upset, depressed or hopeless
🔺SOCIAL: Feeling irritable or easy to anger // Wanting to be away from social situations // Alienating loved ones // Trouble in sharing problems or asking for help // Feeling alienated or alone
My health coaching model helps you achieve your ideal state of health, both physical and mental. My next blog will talk about how to zoom out of your problems, and zoom into yourself instead.
Get in touch for a chat here.
Or email me at hi@tetranutrition.com
Natasha Jha
( India )