National Stress Awareness Day
You are in a situation that is out of your control.
You feel on edge, your heart is racing.
Something feels ‘off’ in the situation you find yourself in.
You are trying your best to manage but you are under a lot of pressure and are overwhelmed…You are stressed!
You have felt stress before, and maybe even more than you would like to admit. Stress happens when you are in a situation that you do not feel you can manage or have control over.
Often, the stress you are experiencing is caused by an external stressor, such as a challenge or threat. This stressor can be a one-time event, short-term or reoccur over a long period of time.
In essence, stress follows you everywhere! And as much as you want to avoid it, you cannot. Which is why it is important to take space to understand your own stress and identify stress management skills. Even though at times, it can feel extremely overwhelming, taking space to be curious about your own stress will not only help you but improve your everyday life.
So, let’s dive a little bit deeper into understanding stress!
Causes of Stress
There are many things that can cause you to feel stressed. You may feel stressed because of one big event in your life, or it may be a build-up of lots of smaller things.
You may experience stress if you are:
Under pressure
Worried about something
Fearful
Facing challenges
Overwhelmed by responsibilities
While there are a number of other causes of stress, it is important for you to take a space to understand your own causes of stress. Being able to identify the causes of stress in your life will allow you to take control back and find effective ways to better manage these events.
Signs of Stress
In addition to understanding the causes of stress, knowing your signs of stress is equally as important. Sometimes you know exactly how your stress feels. Your shoulders are tense, your’re more irritable and short with those around you. Other times you keep going, ignoring, or even failing to recognize the warning signs of your stress. Stress can feel different for all of us, however there are similar signs that appear for many, including:
Difficulty sleeping
Irritability
Feeling overwhelmed
Fatigued
Worried
Headaches
A sense of dread
Racing heart
Chest pains
Depressed
Indigestion
Sweating
Anxiety
An increase in drug or substance use
Having awareness surrounding your own signs of stress is essential in being able to manage your stress levels, cope with stress and building resilience. The more you are aware of your signs, the more space you have to engage in skills to better manage your stress levels!
So, why am I talking about stress? Well, today, November 2nd, is National Stress Awareness Day!
National Stress Awareness Day
Every first Wednesday in November is known as National Stress Awareness Day. During this day, we take 24 hours (which seems like a lot, but in reality, is not!) to increase public awareness surrounding stress and help people recognize, manage and reduce their own stress.
How to Observe National Stress Awareness Day
Do NOT worry!—The best way to celebrate this day is, of course, to no worry! Maybe you do your best to keep away from negative situations or do things that you love.
Contemplate and understand your stress-points—this is more than just one day…it is about trying to understand your causes of stress and then implementing strategies to better your stress
Write in a journal
Focus on the present moment
Get a massage
Take a relaxing bath
Check-in with others
Create a peaceful space for yourself
Go for a walk, meditate or practice yoga
However, you choose to observe National Stress Awareness Day post it on social media with the #StressAwarenessDay!
Stress is a part of life and is something that will continue to ebb and flow. Finding effective ways to manage your stress is essential. We need to get more comfortable with taking a step back, focusing on ourselves and truly identifying what is actually in your control vs. what is not.
