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Nature has made the human body smart and sensitive to external and internal stimuli. Our bodies can tell when we need to march the brakes and give them time to recover. Unfortunately, with its quick-paced, constant demands, modern life has created a disconnect between us and our bodies. Over time, you may have gotten accustomed to the burden life puts on your body, whether working 16-hour shifts daily or being with toxic people.
You could be stressed and not know it because you’re not paying attention to your body. The Life Coach Directory says that many people could be experiencing stress-related symptoms without associating it with stress. Many times, your body will scream at you to stop. Other times, it gently or tiredly whispers to you, “Help us both. Slow down”. But there will always be telltale signs that your vessel needs a break and some good loving. The question is, are you in sync with your body to understand when it’s speaking to you silently?
Knowing your body
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You must learn to understand your body and how it communicates with you. Yes, there are general ways the body speaks, ways we all relate to. For example, everyone feels pain when they accidentally stub their toe. But each of us has peculiar experiences and ways our body communicates with us that may differ from others. Like how you may have cramps or tender breasts just before your period, and another woman may not- it’s different for everyone! This is why you should know how your body speaks to you.
What type of body do you have? What’s your pain threshold? How long does your body take to heal when you sustain an injury? What signs do you get just before you fall sick or lose a lot of weight? These are some vital questions that will bring you closer to your body. That way, you can learn to identify when there’s a stressor and, even beyond that, know what those stressors are.
What are your stressors?
Stress is inevitable. Even if you manage to make a great life for yourself by regulating your activities, eating right and exercising, stress always finds a way to creep in. It’s now up to you to identify your stressors.
After a deep study on the concept of stress, Concordia University defined stressors as events or situations that elicit a stress response in you. They’re anything that can cause stress in your body. There are different types of stressors. But broadly speaking, the Centre For Studies on Human Stress categorizes stressors into two. They could be physical, such as extremely long commutes to school or work daily. They could also be psychological, for example, being anxious about a phone call, the death of a loved one, financial burdens, relationship issues and all the accompanying odds and bits.
The National Jewish Health emphasized that being aware of your stressors helps you cope with the stress. With that awareness, you can nip it in the bud before it becomes dangerous to your health. So, ask yourself, “Are there things causing me stress right now that I’m oblivious to?” When you give yourself an answer, you start to see ways that your body may have been whispering or screaming, “You’re stressed; slow down!” They could be any of the following ways.
1. You can’t sleep! … Or you can’t stop sleeping.
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Associate professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of California, Aric Prather, asserts that stress is a well-known cause of insomnia. Sleep Foundation also suggests that chronic stress can cause insomnia and affect the structural organization of sleep. In simpler terms, you just can’t catch some Z’s or catch ’em when you’re supposed to, which means you nod off often during the day.
Excessive sleeping is also a telltale sign of acute to chronic stress. It’s a cycle, really. You don’t sleep at night and can’t just get enough sleep in the daytime. If this is you, surely, you can’t deny that your stress levels may be off the charts.
2. You eat at extremes – Too much or too little.
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Have you been craving more sugary foods? The brain usually turns to sources of dopamine and serotonin when it senses stress. Are you avoiding food entirely? The stress response is different for everyone. Psychologist Susan Albers says there’s a connection between stress and appetite, which differs for everyone. So, listen to your body. What’s your usual appetite like? Are you eating more or less now? You could be stressed.
3. You have breakouts on your face and body.
This may seem unlikely, but it is true. Even the skin cries out when it lacks some love. So yes, stress can cause or worsen acne. How does this happen? According to Dr John Minni, a board-certified Dermatologist, the body releases stress hormones like androgens and cortisol when stressors exacerbate oil production. Now, excess oil clogs your pores and causes acne.
So, how about you start paying attention to your skin? It may not be your menstruation or those makeup brushes. It might be good ‘ole stress!
4. You have headaches and back pain.
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This one is a no-brainer when the stressor is physical. But did you know mental stress can cause physical pain? Yea. So that headache might be because of the little tiff you had with Tiffany two days back. As Paul Gogh explains, when the body is stressed, the muscles tense up, leading to pains in different body parts.
So, whether you’ve been experiencing an annoying back pain that won’t go away or your shoulders and neck are stiff, it could all mean the one thing – just your body’s way of telling you to turn down the pressure and take out the stressor(s).
4. Your skin is hyperpigmented.
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Besides breakouts or pain, your skin will also protest when the stress is too much for your body. If your skin isn’t as vibrant as usual, or you’re noticing dark patches, you might be sick or need to slow down at work. Stress causes the release of ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone), which in turn kick-starts the process of melanin production (melanogenesis) and voila! You’re dealing with hyperpigmentation. So, you see, the problem may not be that you’re using the wrong sunscreen. Listen to your body – You’ll be glad you did.
