Americans are facing unprecedented levels of stress, according to the American Psychological Association.
The association’s “Stress in America” survey pointed to alarming increases in stress, presently related to inflation, supply chain concerns, global uncertainty, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These concerns have all come after living through a global pandemic for more than two years, which comes with its own challenges. In the survey, 23 percent of Americans reported coping with stress by drinking more alcohol to cope with stress, while 58 percent of Americans have gained or lost more weight than desired.
People can generally handle small doses of stress, but chronic stress has serious health consequences. Stress affects the body and comes with complications such as heart disease, chronic fatigue, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal problems as well as both male and female reproductive concerns. Therefore, finding a healthy way to manage our stress is essential for our overall health.
Natural ways you can manage your stress include:
- Engaging in regular physical activity
- Getting enough sleep each night
- Fueling your body with proper nutrition
- Meditating
- Taking a walk in nature
- Reaching out to friends, a support group, or a mental health professional
For more information on how to care for your physical health, download the DBSA Wellness Wheel.
Get a holistic look at your mental well-being by using the Wellness Tracker to track your mood, symptoms, medications and other lifestyle measures that will give you an overall picture of your wellness.
