Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. But what’s stressful to you may not be the same as what’s stressful to others. You might also have your own way of managing that stress. The intensity and duration of your stress response will depend on many factors that range from your personality to your support system. And although it may often feel unpleasant, stress is an evolutionary necessity. More importantly, it can be managed. When it isn’t, though, it may develop into an acute or chronic stress disorder. Stress is the body’s natural response to a stressor. A stressor is a trigger that may cause you to experience physical, emotional, or mental distress and pressure. In other words, stress is a physical sensation and a feeling of being overwhelmed and not able to deal with the pressures caused by a stressor. Your mental and physical reactions to a stressor serve a purpose. For example, in a hazardous situation, stress puts your body in “fight or flight” mode. In this heightened state of alert, your body and brain are doing everything possible to increase your chances of surviving that perceived or real threat. You may also have a stress reaction to events that might not be life-threatening, like job deadlines or school assignments. In these scenarios, when managed well, stress could help you focus and accomplish your goals at an optimal level. When stress has this potential for a positive outcome, it’s usually referred to as eustress. When, on the other hand, stress leads you to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope, we refer to it as distress. In the short and long run, distress may impact your mental health and sense of well-being. Mental health professionals usually consider three main types of negative stress responses. They each have their own signs and symptoms and may vary in duration too. To reach a diagnosis of acute stress disorder, symptoms must last between 3 days and 1 month. A trigger is usually a traumatic event that causes an intense reaction. For example, after experiencing a jarring car accident, you might start: If symptoms last for more than a month, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is possible. #stressrelief #selfcare #worklifebalance

Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. But what’s stressful to you may not be the same as what’s stressful to others. You might also have your own way of managing that stress. The intensity and duration of your stress response will depend on many factors that range from your personality to your support system. And although it may often feel unpleasant, stress is an evolutionary necessity. More importantly, it can be managed. When it isn’t, though, it may develop into an acute or chronic stress disorder. Stress is the body’s natural response to a stressor. A stressor is a trigger that may cause you to experience physical, emotional, or mental distress and pressure. In other words, stress is a physical sensation and a feeling of being overwhelmed and not able to deal with the pressures caused by a stressor. Your mental and physical reactions to a stressor serve a purpose. For example, in a hazardous situation, stress puts your body in “fight or flight” mode. In this heightened state of alert, your body and brain are doing everything possible to increase your chances of surviving that perceived or real threat. You may also have a stress reaction to events that might not be life-threatening, like job deadlines or school assignments. In these scenarios, when managed well, stress could help you focus and accomplish your goals at an optimal level. When stress has this potential for a positive outcome, it’s usually referred to as eustress. When, on the other hand, stress leads you to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope, we refer to it as distress. In the short and long run, distress may impact your mental health and sense of well-being. Mental health professionals usually consider three main types of negative stress responses. They each have their own signs and symptoms and may vary in duration too. To reach a diagnosis of acute stress disorder, symptoms must last between 3 days and 1 month. A trigger is usually a traumatic event that causes an intense reaction. #stressrelief #selfcare #worklifebalance

Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. But what’s stressful to you may not be the same as what’s stressful to others. You might also have your own way of managing that stress. The intensity and duration of your stress response will depend on many factors that range from your personality to your support system. And although it may often feel unpleasant, stress is an evolutionary necessity. More importantly, it can be managed. When it isn’t, though, it may develop into an acute or chronic stress disorder. Stress is the body’s natural response to a stressor. A stressor is a trigger that may cause you to experience physical, emotional, or mental distress and pressure. In other words, stress is a physical sensation and a feeling of being overwhelmed and not able to deal with the pressures caused by a stressor. Your mental and physical reactions to a stressor serve a purpose. For example, in a hazardous situation, stress puts your body in “fight or flight” mode. In this heightened state of alert, your body and brain are doing everything possible to increase your chances of surviving that perceived or real threat. You may also have a stress reaction to events that might not be life-threatening, like job deadlines or school assignments. In these scenarios, when managed well, stress could help you focus and accomplish your goals at an optimal level. When stress has this potential for a positive outcome, it’s usually referred to as eustress. When, on the other hand, stress leads you to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope, we refer to it as distress. In the short and long run, distress may impact your mental health and sense of well-being. Mental health professionals usually consider three main types of negative stress responses. They each have their own signs and symptoms and may vary in duration too. #stressrelief #selfcare #worklifebalance

It’s Friday. And I’ve got a confession. I once swore I’d never be that person who lived for the weekend. You know, the one who drags themselves through Monday to Friday just to feel alive for 48 short hours. I wanted more than that. I believed in more than that. But lately? I catch myself watching the clock on Monday… waiting for Friday like it’s some kind of rescue mission. Then Saturday rolls in, and for a moment, I breathe. I laugh a little easier. I feel a bit more like me. But by Sunday night, the dread creeps back in like clockwork. And suddenly the freedom I just tasted starts to feel like a tease. I hate that. Because this isn’t the life I imagined. Not the version where joy is rationed, and peace only visits on weekends. And if you’ve been feeling it too — you’re not alone. The pressure, the burnout, the constant loop of “just get through the week” — it’s not how we’re meant to live. So maybe today, instead of just waiting for the weekend, we start asking bigger questions: What would it take to build a life you don’t need to escape from? Not overnight. Not perfectly. But slowly. Intentionally. Because you deserve more than two days of freedom. You deserve a life that feels good to wake up to — even on a Monday. #ThankGodItsFriday, #WeekendVibes, #RealTalk, #BurnoutCulture, #MondayBlues, #WorkLifeBalance, #EscapeTheRatRace, #IntentionalLiving, #LifeOnYourTerms, #RedefineSuccess, #MentalHealthMatters, #SlowLiving, #WeekendFreedom, #PurposeOverPaycheck, #DesignYourLife