You’re running late for work and can’t find your car keys. You feel a sense of panic rising in your chest. Your heart races as you search the house for the keys. When you finally find them, you rush out the door without breakfast – without so much as a shallow breath.
At this point, your nutrition isn’t the only thing that has gone out the window for the day. Your mind and body are already off – your morning scramble sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Still, somewhere among the discomfort and subsiding panic, you feel a strange sense of relief that you got where you needed to go in time. Stress is on your side in moments like these, like it is supposed to be.
Understanding Stress
Stress is a natural response to events or situations that cause us to feel threatened, challenged, or anxious. Short-term stress can help you focus and perform under pressure. It can motivate you to take action, so you can do things like finding your keys and getting to work on time!
Still, stress’s physical, emotional, and mental effects can be harsh. They can even be life-threatening even if, ironically, stress arises to save us. Even if an exciting new job or move is the stressor, the body still reacts the same. No matter how long stress lasts or what causes it, it harms our health.
So, where does that leave us regarding what we can do about it? What happens when stress is always on your side?
We already know that stress is not good for us. We feel it in our minds and our bodies when it takes over. We feel stress in the tightness of our chest, racing hearts, and sweaty palms.
We can’t always stop this from happening, but we can get better at recognizing stress and how stress plays out in our lives and bodies. We can ask ourselves if we are experiencing stress too intensely or frequently that it’s past the point of helpfulness.
The Health Impact of Stress
Several symptoms are associated with stress, including headaches, backaches, upset stomachs, chest pain, and rapid heartbeat. When stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones contribute to digestive system, memory, and sleep problems.
When stress is chronic and unrelenting, our body’s response becomes constant. The overall health impact is alarming when our stress hormones and heart rate are consistently elevated.
The long-term impact of stress can cause health problems like chronic pain, heart disease, heart attack, asthma, and stroke. Stress also weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses. It increases your risk for chronic health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
In terms of mental and emotional health, stress can cause one to feel anxious, panicked, and helpless. If left unmanaged, stress can contribute to depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.
What You Can Do
Do you have a lot of stress in your life? April is National Stress Awareness Month, so this is the perfect time to reflect on the relationship between stress and your overall health and improve it.
The first step is recognizing that stress isn’t always a bad thing. Stress is a normal reaction, even in the most ordinary, non-life threatening situations. However, if stress is prevalent in your life, your body is preparing you to fight or flee danger more often than it should be. To address this, you must become mindful of the day-to-day triggers causing you to react.
Then, you can do various things to reduce stress and its impact on your life. First, make time for yourself. Include activities you enjoy in your weekly schedule and stick to them. Second, practice relaxation techniques like yoga, body scans, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation. And finally, talk to someone about what’s going on in your life – whether it’s a friend, family member, or therapist.
When it comes to our health, stress isn’t always on our side. It’s important to be aware of the relationship between stress and our physical, mental, and emotional health. Taking steps to manage and reduce stress can improve your overall health and well-being. Our team is here to walk with you on your journey to improved health through innovative therapies.
TMS
by Deb (age 64)
Category: generalThe hoops I jumped through in order to be evaluated were straightforward and efficient. I met with PA Kaitlin for about an hour to discuss my history and previous medications. Then Dr. Amato joined us to further discuss my history, the TMS treatment, and answer any questions. Myrna gathered all of the information and submitted it to my health insurance company to request coverage for TMS. Fortunately, insurance approved the treatment and I was able to begin the next week. I’m sure most people have anxiety about starting a treatment like TMS. No matter how many times it’s described to you, there are many unknowns. How will I feel during treatment? Is it painful? What if this doesn’t work? What if it works for a while but then stops? In all honesty, I was very uncomfortable during the first couple of weeks of treatment. The alternating two seconds of tapping sensation caused some pain during treatment, and at the end of the first week I thought about quitting. But I had sworn to myself that TMS was a last resort and I HAD TO complete the treatment and give it a chance to work. My technician, Heather, told me that some people don’t feel the tapping at all, they only hear it. Guess I wasn’t one of those people! But as the days went by, it became easier to tolerate the treatments. During this time I also saw Lauren weekly for CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). This is highly recommended for people undergoing TMS treatment, and it was a positive complement to my total of 100 minutes each week “under the helmet”. The weekend between weeks three and four, I started to notice subtle improvements in my mood, increased belief in my self-worth, and enthusiasm for simple things like going for walks, meeting friends for lunch, and taking on volunteer work in the community. I hesitated at first to believe that TMS was helping me. I was afraid that I was convincing myself it was working because I so desperately wanted it to! But now that I am past the treatment I can say with cert
TMS
by Barbie (age 68)
Category: generalI feel so blessed to participate in the TMS protocol at MT Psychiatry. After struggling so many years with depression and not getting significant results from medication, particularly of late, I noticed positive results in the first two weeks of treatment. TMS can literally give you back the beauty & joy in living as well as the courage to make positive life changes and improvements in your daily living situation. I heartily encourage anyone to put yourself into the hands of the amazing TMS team who so gently and graciously make this journey with you out of the black hole that is depression. It is my honor and privilege to give the TMS treatment the highest recommendation.
TMS
by Shayne (age 66)
Category: generalI am grateful for the support and caring I have received from Dr. Amato (and Heidi, Heather and Myrna) in my quest for mental health and a fuller more productive life. While the TMS results have been subtle, I feel more positive about my future and I would recommend this team absolutely. Thank you!
TMS
by Carrie (age 65)
Category: generalNot realizing how fuzzy my head was, I thought I was only going through severe anxiety and depression. Through the insight of Pat, I was able to go through TMS treatments which brought down the anxiety and depression immensely and has cleared up the fuzzy, far off substantially. All the personnel treated me with kindness and I’m sure their attitudes helped in my recovery.
TMS
by Bridget (age 47)
Category: generalThe first outcome of TMS I noted happened early in my treatment, at about the beginning of week two. I felt as though my “brain fog” had been chipped away. I wish I could report that I feel my mental health issues are in “remission”, but I can’t do so yet. My hope is that I will see improvement in the weeks to come, now that my TMS cycle has ended. I can say that my brain feels – in some way – different; I can’t explain exactly how. I continue to struggle at this point in time but sill have hope for more improvement.
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