The past
few months have been incredibly stressful. You've spent this time dealing with
the realities of living through a pandemic and the fear of catching COVID-19 or
watching loved ones struggle with it. If you think you're becoming too stressed
but aren't sure, check if you have these symptoms.
Back Pain
Many
people who are very stressed have problems with back pain. Talk to your doctor
about stretches you can do to relieve the tension in your back muscles. In the
meantime, exercise regularly, use good posture, and try to avoid putting on
weight. For extreme cases, look into advanced treatments such as radiofrequency
ablation Jacksonville FL.
Insomnia
Not being
able to sleep at night is a horrible cycle, especially when you're also
stressed. If you spend several hours every night staring at your ceiling, you
probably have stress-related insomnia. To increase your chances of a good night's
sleep, avoid talking about stressful topics, especially the pandemic, before
you go to sleep. Turn off your phone and other sources of blue
light, and read a book or talk to your spouse.
Make sure to get plenty of exercise during the day and don't take naps in the
afternoon. In severe cases, you may be able to receive medication from your
doctor, but most instances of insomnia can be addressed with these measures.
Weight Change
Weight
gain and loss can both be symptoms of stress. Whether you're overeating because
you need something to distract you from reality or undereating because your
anxiety has taken away your appetite, changes in your eating patterns are signs
that you need to relax.
Dealing with stress is a hard process, and it takes time
to learn how to relax after being incredibly stressed. As you adjust your
lifestyle, remember to be kind to yourself and to celebrate each small amount
of progress.