Kiddipedia
By Jas Rawlinson
As a mental health advocate and writing coach who specialises in assisting trauma survivors to tell their stories, self-care is a big part of my personal and professional life.
However, whilst we are all aware of stress and the many ways in which it can negatively impact our lives, not as many are aware of a much more intense form known as hyperstress response.
According to psychologist Noosha Anzab, who works for the online health platform ‘Lysn’, hyperstress response is actually one of the most common forms of stress. Referring to an emotional state where an individual has been pushed ‘beyond their normal limits or has overloaded themselves physically or mentally, hyperstress – as Noosha explains – can often result in ‘burn out, aggression, and anxiety.’
Below are three ways that you can positively manage this common form of stress, and get your health back on track.
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BEATING FACEBOOK FOMO
When you’re in a state of high stress, scrolling mindlessly through Facebook or reading rage-baiting statuses can only serve to further influence your anxiety and physical stress responses.
So, if you feel yourself being dragged down by stress or anxiety, take time away from social media. Preferably, try to go ‘social media free’ for at least a few days. That said, if a digital detox isn’t completely off the cards – say for example, if you need to use it for your business – limit your usage by only posting on your business pages. Likewise, you can also give yourself a break by setting aside one day to schedule all your posts for the next few weeks.
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PRIORITISING SLEEP
As someone who struggles with bouts of hyperstress from time to time, I know that one of the worst things I can do for myself during these periods, is to spend my nights endlessly staring at my phone or scrolling through Facebook.
So, instead, I choose to indulge in some guilty Netflix pleasures around dinner time and make sure I stop working, or using my phone, by 9pm at the very latest.
The importance of sleep and sufficient ‘wind-down’ time is something that cannot be overstated – particularly if we want to reduce our stress levels. As Noosha explains: “Sleep deprivation actually leads to hyperactivity in our brains, causing poor mood regulation and impaired memory… and essentially, feeds the hyperstress response by releasing more stress hormones into our system.
“Sleep will ensure that your body and mind are rejuvenated and if you’ve had a stressful day, it can be just the thing to allow your body to relax and reset.”
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MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS
Just like sleep, meditation and mindfulness are also incredibly helpful in preventing, or reducing the impact of, hyperstress response.
As Noosha explains: “Mindfulness can be incredibly refreshing and help us maintain a moment-by-moment awareness of our body, feelings, thoughts and surrounds. This can really help in keeping us grounded rather than lost in thoughts which can sometimes be maladaptive.”
However, if – like myself – you struggle with meditation, try instead to listen to relaxing music prior to bed (such as Binaural sleep music) or unwind with some gratitude journaling.
ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE…
In today’s busy world, there are millions of us struggling with stress in one form or another at any given time. Be kind to yourself, and try to learn your body’s unique stress triggers. That way, you’ll be able to adopt a self-care routine that your body responds to, and implement it before the physical symptoms grow too large.
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