April is Stress Awareness Month

Did you know April is Stress Awareness Month? Since 1992 we’ve been observing April as a time to bring awareness to the impacts of stress. This has always been an important issue but now it’s necessary to have this conversation. Stress can many consequences that we need to be aware of.

Stress is a normal part of life. At every stage of life, we experience it in some shape and form. Life can be overwhelming, causing us to get “stressed out.” But what happens when the impact of stress starts to take over our lives? Too much stress can put a strain on both our physical and emotional health. It can cause issues with the immune and digestive systems. Some common stressors are financial issues, major life changes(example: marriage, moving or starting a family), illness and work. It can be short or long term.

Stress can be sneaky and builds up when we don’t even realize it. Sometimes we’re so caught up the demands of life that we can’t catch it. This is why we have to be aware and understand what can happen when too much is thrown out us for too long. It can create a roadblock in our lives that can be rough to move forward from. This is why stress management is important.

Some ways to manage is to get rest, eat right, exercise, practice mindfulness and gratitude. Communications and boundaries are also key as it can prevent an overload of responsibility. Surround yourself with positive people and reduce the amount of unnecessary drama in your life. Limit exposure to news and other distressing content on media. Let’s take this time to start spreading awareness about this and find ways to lower stress our and other people’s lives around us!