Managing Stress Matters  

 April is Stress Awareness Month and SCRMC urges you to evaluate how stress affects you and take action to mitigate its effects.  

Experiencing stress is a normal part of the human experience. High, unmanaged stress levels, however, can wreak havoc on a person’s overall health. “According to the American Psychological Association, stress affects all systems of the body, including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous and reproductive systems.”

Eliminating stress altogether is often impossible, but we can take steps to reduce its impact. Try incorporating the following practices into daily life:  

1. Move your body: It is important to take time to exercise. Taking time to engage in exercise that you enjoy, whether that may be walking your dog, going for a jog, playing pickleball or simply stretching on your lunch break, can have huge impacts on your mental health.  

1. Eat Nutritious Meals: What you eat matters, not just for your physical health but also for your emotional and mental health too. Aim to eat nutritious whole foods that offer actual health benefits and stay away from highly processed foods. It is also important to remember that excessive amounts of caffeine, fatty foods or sugar can subject your body to unnecessary physical stress, by raising your heart rate and blood sugar levels.  

1. Talk to Someone: Some days can be emotionally draining, and it is important that you speak with someone who is able to lift your spirits and point you in a more positive direction. South Central Behavioral Health offers outpatient counseling services from licensed and experienced providers. To schedule an appointment, please call 601- 426 – 9614. 

1. Focus on the positive/what you can control: Famous stoic philosopher, Epictetus, asserted that in life, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Some days are just bad, but there is something good in almost every day, if you can remember to look for it. Do not focus on what went wrong and celebrate the ten things that went right.  

This April lets commit to cultivating healthier, sustainable methods of coping with stress.  SCRMC wants to be your partner in improving your mental and physical health.  

For more information about South Central Behavioral Health click here. To schedule an appointment, please call 601- 426 – 9614.