What you can do during Stress Awareness Month

According to a study by the American Psychological Association in 2020, around 75% of Americans reported they experienced a physical or mental symptom of stress. In another study done by Qualtrics, 95% of Gen Zers (aged 18 to 25 in 2022) reported to be stressed at least once a week, the highest of all the demographics surveyed. April1st commences the first day of Stress Awareness Month, discussing some tips and tricks to help manage high-stress situations or lifestyles is essential.

What is Stress Awareness Month?

Stress Awareness Month is a “national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society” (Stress, 2023). Organizations such as the Health Resource Network have used this month to advocate heavily for policy implementation and resources that help combat stress in today’s time.

What does Stress look like?

Stress as we know it comes in all shapes and forms. Stress can be caused due to school or familial situations, economic status, and work environments. One of the key ways to combat stress is to learn some key symptoms, such as:

• Decreased Energy and Insomnia

• Depression

• Physical Symptoms such as acne and headaches

• Chronic pain

• Frequent sickness

• Appetite changes and weight gain

• Rapid Heartbeat and sweating

What can you do to limit stress?

Personally, I have dealt with stress my entire life and have found it to be a huge obstacle in doing day-to-day activities. These are a couple of strategies that I use to help me reduce my stress levels, which are also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Exercising regularly: I try to get a workout every day and only take a break when needed.

• Get plenty of sleep: I try to get at least 6 hours of sleep every night

• Try to eat regular balanced meals: I try to eat a balanced diet full of protein and carbs in order to fuel my workout

• Meditate and take deep breaths: This is a practice that has been implemented recently in my life and it has helped wonders. My favorite breathing exercise is called four, four, four. Four seconds in, followed by a four-second hold and then it ends with a four-second release.

Citations

Lambright, Michelle. “Americans' Stress Levels — and Financial Anxiety — on the Rise.” ValuePenguin, 4 April 2022, https://www.valuepenguin.com/stress-financial-anxiety-survey. Accessed 23 March 2023.

Ortiz, Cydney, and Cynthia Cobb. “Stress Symptoms: Physical Effects of Stress and How to Treat.” Healthline, 14 December 2021, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/symptoms-of-stress#complications-of-stress. Accessed 24 March 2023.

“Stress Awareness Month 2023.” The Stress Management Society, https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month/. Accessed 23 March 2023.

“Tips for Coping with Stress|Publications|Violence Prevention|Injury Center.” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/copingwith-stresstips.html. Accessed 24 March 2023.