by Guest Blogger, Erin Kennedy
Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat.
Your nervous system responds to threatening situations by releasing a flood of stress hormones. The stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, rouse the body for emergency action. This is known as the “fight or flight” stress response. It is your body’s way of protecting you. Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper.
Stressors are situations and pressures that cause this physical reaction. Anything that puts high demands on you or forces you to adjust can be stressful. Stress can be caused by external factors and can be self- generated. What causes excessive stress depends partly on your perception of it. With that said, everyone experiences stress differently.
Stress can have a positive effect on people when it’s within their comfort zone. It can help you perform under pressure, keep you focused, alert, safe, and motivated. When stress is beyond your comfort zone it can damage your health, mood, relationships, and quality of life. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and speed up the aging process.
What really matters is how you respond to stress. Stress relievers can help restore calm and serenity to your life. If your stress feels like it’s getting out of control, here are some ways to reduce stress:
Get enough sleep- Exercise
- Organize/Prioritize
- Stretch breaks
- Deep breaths
- Laugh more
- Say “NO!”
- Journal
- Eat a healthy diet
Erin Kennedy, MS, Exercise Physiologist
As the director of the Center for Healthy Lifestyles, Erin is responsible for overseeing daily operations. She also assists businesses and organizations throughout McLean County and Livingston County with designing and implementing wellness programs.
Erin works closely with specialty physicians to promote community awareness on various health topics. Her special interests include working with those who have heart disease, diabetes, and weight management concerns.
Erin has been published in several trade magazines and journals and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. In 2014, Erin was honored by the YWCA of McLean County with the Women of Distinction – Professions Award. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in exercise science and a Master’s Degree in exercise physiology from Illinois State University. Erin joined OSF HealthCare in 2000.
Connect with Erin on LinkedIn here.