“Listen” for the Warning Signs of Stress

Have you ever noticed things about yourself when you are in a very still, quiet place? Aches you hadn’t noticed before. Discomfort. Feeling lethargic. Exhaustion. These are all telling signs your body gives you to say it is either trying to recover from something or it just doesn’t feel…right. We move at such a pace and are so inundated with distractions and are in sensory overload that often I believe we do not “hear” what our body is trying to tell us!

This is where the idea of meditation comes into play. This is why practices such as yoga and tai chi have had such dedicated participants over the ages. When you are still. When you are quiet. When you LISTEN – you can hear – or feel – your body and what it needs.

More often than not it needs rest, proper nutrition, activity, stress release. But often we are so caught up in the adrenaline of the day – or so distracted by the noise of life – that we do not truly recognize symptoms for what they are. You may not be given the total answer of what you need, but at least you will be attentive enough to recognize red flags when needed.

According to the American Psychological Association, your body actually gives off warning signs of stress. Some examples may be: fatigue, short temper, disrupted sleep, an increased frequency of colds, chest pain, etc.

Like the APA says, by learning to recognize your body’s warning signs and how to effectively manage stress in your life – you can make the needed adjustments quickly and prevent continued distress and the damage it can cause to continue.

Read more here: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-signs.aspx