A recent survey from the American Psychological Association found that more than eighty percent of women experience physical symptoms of stress like fatigue and headaches on a regular basis.
Are you one of them?
The thing is, most women think they’re managing their stress well. In the survey from the American Psychological Association, eighty-one percent of women said they were managing their stress “extremely well” or “somewhat well”. Despite that, eighty-one percent of women complained of physical symptoms of stress.
How do you know if you’re stressed?
- Physical symptoms like headache, fatigue, and muscle tension.
- Impaired ability to focus or concentrate.
- You have a shorter temper than usual. Other emotions may seem out of proportion — you may cry easily.
- Change in appetite. You may be craving junk food. You may not feel hungry.
- Change in sleep habits. You may have difficulty sleeping. You may feel tired even after a full night’s sleep.
You may not notice that you’re stressed. If you aren’t sure, ask a friend or loved one — they may be able to notice things about you that you aren’t seeing for yourself.
Here are some things you can do to relieve your stress:
- Ask for help. You don’t have to be superwoman and do it all alone! Maybe the kids can help out with chores around the house. Maybe your spouse can do some of the running around and give you an afternoon off. Maybe someone at work can help you with a difficult project.
- Make sure you get some quiet time to yourself each day. Use it for reading, a favorite hobby, or a nice hot bath — something to help you relax!
- Keep a journal. Writing out your thoughts and feelings may help save you from running them through your head over and over.
- Exercise. It’s good for you, and it can help blow off some steam from a tough day. Rather than lose your temper with a loved one, work off some of your stress with a good cardio workout.