Exercise as a Stress Management Modality

As we get into mid-semester stress levels for most people begin to rise due to mid-term exams, the holidays coming up, and just the daily stressors of everyday life. I know myself that I am in a very stressful time. Last week I had four mid-term exams, and next week I have a major term project due and a huge cross-country meet! Also, money is another stressor for me because I don't have the time to work right now due to school and cross-country, so I really have to budget my money. These are the major stressors that I am dealing with right now, but I realize that it's different for everyone.
The most common causes of stresses can be brought about by a traumatic accident, death, or emergency situation. Stress can also be a side effect of a serious illness or disease. The daily life stressors include the workplace and family responsibilities. Some early signs of stress include headache, sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, short-temper, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, low morale, depression, and anxiety, which all negatively affect health.
The way that I tend to deal with stress in my life is mainly by exercise. Being on the cross-country team helps a lot because it is fun for me and it gives me a break from my school work and time to socialize with friends. Common ways that others tend to deal with stress is by relaxing, making time for yourself, getting enough sleep, eating right, physical activity, talking to friends, writing down thoughts, helping others, planning your time, and getting a hobby. It's important for your health and well being to handle stress in these healthy than to handle it in unhealthy ways such as drinking too much alcohol, doing drugs, or overeating. If worst comes to worst than seek professional help. A therapist can help you work through stress and find better ways to deal with problems. There also are medications that can help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety and help promote sleep.
Since my blog is based on running and physical activity I wanted to let you know why physical activity is good for stress. getting physical activity not only helps relieve your tense muscles, but helps your mood too! Your body makes certain chemicals, called endorphins, before and after you work out. They relieve stress and improve your mood. It also can give you a break from whatever is stressing you out!
Reference: http://www.4women.gov/FAQ/stress-your-health.cfm#1

Loving Yourself Inside and Out!

I decided to write this blog on body image as a brief introduction to my health promotion commercial, and also because running and exercise can help women feel happier about their bodies. A lot of women suffer from a distorted body image, and perceive types of their body unlike they really are. Women are constantly pressured to have the “Barbie Doll” or model type body by our media and people in our lives, and this can lead to emotional distress, low self-esteem, dieting, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Being extremely thin is considered beautiful in our culture, and for most people this is very difficult and/or impossible to achieve and maintain. Did you know that only about 5 percent of women fall under this criterion of thin? These women that are naturally thin also often have small breasts, so the images of women that we see in the media most likely have implants or are completely perfected on the computer. Since you’ve learned that the model image, for the most part, is made up, here are some ways that you can feel more comfortable with your body and achieve some health benefits at the same time. Eat healthily, exercise regularly, and get plenty of rest. Eating healthily can promote healthy skin and hair, along with strong bones. Regular exercise can boost self-esteem, self-image, mood, and energy levels. Getting plenty of rest is key to stress management. It’s not fair that women have to deal with the anxiety, stress, and discomfort daily with pressures to be “perfect.” Women should be made to feel comfortable with their bodies and deal with anxieties in a healthy way!

Reference: http://www.4woman.gov/bodyimage/