April is Stress Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month is a national campaign that began in 1992 in a widespread effort to inform people about the dangers of stress and educate the public about successful coping strategies. With all the pressures of modern life, stress is more prevalent than ever: two-thirds of U.S. workers reported engaging in behavior such as drinking or crying regularly in response to stress.
What Is Stress?
Stress is an emotional, physiological and psychological reaction to various factors in our lives. It often takes the form of feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure. Money, work, family, economic outlook and relationships were the five top-reported sources of stress in an American Psychological Association survey. Additionally, people dealing with acute and complex trauma and other mental health disorders can find themselves experiencing more stress from everyday events, triggering responses.
What are the Dangers of Stress?
Beyond interrupting one’s ability to enjoy life, stress can have a cumulative, oxidative effect on one’s mental and physical wellbeing. People who experience chronic stress are more susceptible to a variety of ailments, from headaches and insomnia to high blood pressure and heart disease.
What are effective coping strategies for dealing with stress?
It might seem like stress is an unavoidable part of everyday life. But these coping strategies can help you release and manage stress, preventing it from building up and affecting your mental and physical health.
- Exercise - Exercise is proven to be one of the top ways to combat stress. If time constraints prevent you from sticking to a regular exercise routine, find ways to build physical activity into your day in small ways.
- Relaxation methods - There are numerous, proven ways to get your mind to unwind. Meditation, breathing exercises, and even prayer are all ways to put the mind at ease and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
- Nutrition - Stress makes many people head straight for the snack pantry. However, this is likely to exacerbate the problem. Sticking to a healthy diet rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals is key for helping your body and mind cope with stressors.
- Unplug - Too much screen time is emerging as a hidden cause of stress buildup. Too much time online or watching TV exacerbates stress. As tempting as it can be to binge-watch a favorite series to relax, try and limit your screen time if you are suffering from stress and find enjoyable alternatives.
- Have fun! - Laughter has been found to lower levels of stress hormones and inflammation. Try and reprioritize your commitments, and make time to engage in activities that bring you joy.
Where does CalmiGo fit in?
CalmiGo is a groundbreaking device designed to help you combat stress and restore a sense of calm.
This scientifically proven, drug-free device activates your body’s own natural stress-alleviating capabilities and soothes the nervous system in just 3 minutes.
Calmigo combines three scientifically proven de-stressing techniques - breathing regulation, multi-sensory stimulation, and relaxing scents - to restore a sense of calm. Want to know how it works? Read more here (link to how does it work page).
