The advancement of science and technologies and the development in business and industries have made people rush towards making money and better lifestyles as soon as possible. The world is more competitive than before; everyone is constantly urged to achieve greater things.
But in the process of running towards such a life, people do fall into the trap of mental disorder. There’s a famous saying “No pain, no gain”. In order to achieve something, we have to lose something or go through the pain. But is losing your mental balance worth the money or a better lifestyle? Sometimes it’s not even about the money or better lifestyles.
What exactly is Stress?
In simple words, Stress means emotional and mental pressure. Since we understood what stress means, we have stressed a lot of things. But most of those stresses were temporary, like stress before sitting for an exam and passing the examination with good marks, the stress of getting caught for doing unethical things, stress about the competition in sports, etc. As we grew up, the duration of stress also increased, stressing about careers, failures and success, life, etc.
Stress can be positive such as getting a new job or greater responsibility. Still, it becomes negative when we tend to fail the responsibility given or when we continue to face difficult challenges without a break or relaxation.
In recent times, especially during the pandemic, COVID-19 has caused more stress in people of all ages. It turned the world upside down when the lockdown was announced worldwide. People faced financial and job loss problems; work from home became even more stressful. Many countries face the problem of economic decline and food shortage. All these problems also pile up the stress load.
How Does Stress Affect an Individual?
Stress is one of the major mental health issues we need to address. The whole world is suffering from stress, yet people are not vocal about it because they feel it’s not normal or think of it as a taboo. It is the root cause of all the other health problems. Stress can cause exertion, fatigue, headache, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Yes, prolonged stress and lack of sleep can also lead to depression. Stress can also create problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, chest pain, skin problems (pimples and acne), poor digestion, and asthma.
The other health-related problems that stress causes are upset stomach, body aches, muscle tension, cold and infections, low energy, loss of sexual desire, nervousness, and sweaty hands and feet. Stress will have you constantly worrying, having pessimistic thoughts, forgetfulness, and inability to focus. Stress also causes a change in appetite and an increase in the consumption of cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol.
Stress Management
Stress is designed for humans to experience quite often, if not regularly. But there are ways that can help you manage stress.
- Have a positive attitude and accept that you cannot control everything.
- Learn to manage your time and make short-term goals.
- Make time for relaxation, get a hobby or interest.
- Learn to control your feelings and be accepted instead of being aggressive.
- Do not indulge yourself in drinking and smoking; they’ll not solve anything but rather worsen your health.
- Seek help from a therapist or talk to your loved ones more. Being more social will help you calm down a bit.
You can also try meditation and yoga for stress management. Vitamins and supplements can also help reduce stress. Take good care of your body. Get an adequate amount of sleep and make sure to have food rich in nutrients. Avoid too much sugar and fat in your meal as it can double the stress. And junk food, too, can seem appealing but have an adverse effect on stress.
Vitamins and Supplements for Stress
Home remedies proved effective in some cases, but people usually fail to follow the ways suggested to reduce stress. The reason for this failure can be a person’s busy schedule, or sometimes these remedies are not enough to cater to their needs. Vitamins and minerals improve not only physical health but also mental stability. They help to cope with stress. We shall see further how vitamins exactly help cope with stress.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B is of eight different types, which are essential for the body’s wellbeing. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12 help maintain the nervous system. A strong nervous system helps in regulating stress. The foods rich in vitamin B are meat, fish, eggs, and leafy and green vegetables. Without an optimal diet, you can have B complex supplements from vitamins store Canada. These supplements are Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), and Biotin (B7). All these vitamins have shown a positive impact on health. They are also known as anti-stress vitamins.
Magnesium
According to the researchers, magnesium is found to reduce stress and anxiety. It plays an important role in affecting the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Hypothalamus regulates the adrenal and pituitary glands; these glands are responsible for stress. It is recommended to have 400 mg of magnesium in your diet.
Foods rich in magnesium are avocado, legumes, dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, etc. The best magnesium supplement for stress is Magnesium glycinate. Take the tablet orally with a glass full of water. The best way to take magnesium supplements is with a meal to avoid upsetting the stomach.
5-Hydroxytryptophan
5-hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is a byproduct of protein, which works in the central nervous system by increasing the serotonin in the body. Serotonin often helps to cure stress, anxiety, and depression. 5-HTP tablets twice or thrice a day might reduce stress by increasing the serotonin level in the body.
Bottom Line
While stress has become an integral part of our lives, too much stress is clearly harmful to both mental and physical health. But fortunately, there are ways and methods to reduce stress. Home remedies are the easiest and cheapest way to deal with stress. You can start taking vitamins and supplements to manage stress in a much simpler and more effective manner.
