| USA TODAY
What to do about the stress caused by the terrible American climate
If you’re scared and anxious because of scary moments like the Capitol riots and the 2020 presidential election, you’re not alone.
Team video, USA TODAY
Think of them as warning signs. Something is not right.
You may not be sleeping well or have more headaches than usual. You have no appetite and you also have fits of nausea.
Stress is not just a state of mind. It is something that can create chaos in your body. Experts say poor physical health can often signal poor mental health.
“Many times our bodies are trying to communicate with us when we are not in a good place,” said Vaile Wright, senior director of health innovation at the American Psychological Association.
The American Psychological Association’s 2020 Stress in America survey found that Americans were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic while dealing with other persistent stressors – such as political polarization and racial discrimination.
The survey found that 80% of American adults say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their lives and 60% said the number of problems America faces is overwhelming.
‘The culmination of crises’: The United States is in turmoil and a mental health crisis is approaching
Hope: Why is it so important
“We would be automatons if we didn’t have an emotional or physical reaction to stress,” said Vanessa Kennedy, director of psychology at Driftwood, a mental health and addiction rehabilitation center in Texas. “But we can certainly mitigate the response … by making sure that we check each day and make a conscious effort to really pay attention to our body.”
Inflammation, brain changes: what stress does to the body
When someone experiences a high level of stress, the body releases stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline are among the best known. This prepares the body to fight or flee, our evolutionary response to a threat.
The problem, Kennedy said, is when stress becomes chronic. The prolonged release of stress hormones increases the overall level of inflammation in the body and can lead to long-term health effects.
Research shows that stress affects the nervous system and can even cause structural changes in the brain, which can change the way we think and alter our memory. Stress can weaken our immune system, making us more susceptible to disease. Prolonged stress can also exacerbate pre-existing health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or breathing problems.
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans says their mental health is worse now than it was last year, according to an October APA report.
“Maintaining a level of hyperexcitation is not really sustainable,” said Wright. “It’s too much. It just wears you out.”
How to scan your body for stress
Kennedy said it is sometimes easier for someone to focus on physical symptoms than to identify what they are feeling emotionally. That’s why she advises her patients to have a daily body scan.
“We will not be aware day by day, as we are just trying to put one foot in front of the other about how we are feeling or how we are starting to have a little more muscle tension,” said Kennedy. .
To check in, you need to slow down. For 15 minutes, she said, be quiet, be present and pay attention to all of your five senses.
“Check each muscle group, from head to toe,” she said. “You may notice things like ‘Oh, I’m feeling a lump in my throat, or’ I’m having a slight headache, please ‘or’ maybe I’m feeling a little bit of fatigue ‘.”
You may also ask yourself:
- Am I sleeping badly?
- Am I eating well?
- Am I craving unhealthy food?
- Am I gritting my teeth?
- Do I feel pain in my body?
If you are answering yes to these questions, then “your body is trying to give you the signal that something needs to change in the environment or you need to change your reaction to what is happening in the environment,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy said that while stress may not be good, our body’s responses to it are productive and probably a good thing after all, if we can use these tips to change what is under our control. She also notes that one of the things that can be most beneficial to a body is the connection to another person.
“There are neurochemicals that are released into our brains when we connect with other people in a meaningful way,” she said. “Relationships and connection with other people are essential.”
You might also be interested in: