Most people undergo stress when they are overloaded and struggling to cope with certain routine tasks. These can be related to managing finances, work, relationships, and other situations. Anything that poses a real or perceived challenge or threat to a person's well-being can cause stress. The "fight-or-flight" mechanism can tell us when and how to respond to danger. However, if this mechanism is triggered too easily, or when there are too many stressors at one time, it can undermine a person's mental and physical health and become harmful.

How does it affect a woman’s mind and body?

Men and women can react similarly in many medical situations, stressful or otherwise, but there is a difference to how both react to stress, while the exact mechanisms aren't very clear, the differences in the brain and body may make women more physically and emotionally sensitive to certain types of stress. And comparatively they are more inclined towards overthinking.

PROBLEMS RELATED TO STRESS

Skin Issues

Stress can lead to acne breakouts, itchy rashes and even hives in some women.

Emotional swings

From being in a blue or irritable mood to more serious mental issues, like depression, your emotional health suffers when there’s stress in your life.

Sleep Problems

Trouble falling or staying asleep is common in women affected by stress, and this is particularly counterproductive since a good night’s sleep can help ease stress.

Trouble Concentrating

Stress makes it hard to focus and be effective in your responsibilities at home or work and that can compound your problems if the stress comes from your job to begin with.

Heart Trouble

Stress can negatively affect the entire cardiovascular system, and while it doesn't directly cause high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack, it can definitely contribute to them.

Lowered Immune Response

One of the more complicated physical reactions to stress is your body’s lessened ability to fight off disease, whether it’s a cold or a flare-up of a chronic condition.

How can women lower their stress levels?

Stress can be manageable, but how? It highly hinges on how well you handle stress.

• Improving your diet can be a very good start to supress the stress.

By eating well-balanced meals and skipping junk food, you can improve your physical well-being and, in turn, your emotional health.

• Always make time for exercise. Exercise can be a phenomenal way to curb depression and stress, getting active can lift your spirits by increasing hormones that can improve your mood. Other popular stress-busters include yoga and meditation.

• Find fun ways to relax. Connecting with friends and family can be very much effective to one’s mental health and women should need some time out from the hectic lives to feel more lively indulging new hobbies like crafting, drawing, or even home décor can be stress relieving.

• Spending time outdoors is hugely important in preventing depression. The expansive space, colors, and fresh air can all help your brain disengage.

• Just breathe! conjure up an image that makes you feel tranquil, then close your eyes and take deep breaths, paying attention to the air filling your chest. Exhale with a sigh, imagining all the tension in your body evaporating. Slow breaths help reduce stress hormones in the body.

THE STRESS FOOD BANK

Foods that help curb the depression

Almonds

A fist full of almonds have natural calming properties to change your mood and are fantastic for people suffering from moderate levels of stress. Snacking on nuts helps in warding off anxiety. They are rich in stress-reducing vitamins and minerals like magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E.

Avocados

Avocados are one of the best foods to lower stress. These low-sugar fruits are rich in B vitamins, which naturally lower your stress levels. Avocados are rich and creamy in taste, and also reduce the blood sugar spikes that can lead to anxiety.

Oranges

Squish a juicy orange in a glass, sit back and wave a goodbye to your anxiety. This citrus fruit is rich in Vitamin C, is a proven stress buster. Vitamin C reduces the stress and allows you to bounce back from those situations quickly.

Spinach and Brown rice

Never say no to vegetables! Spinach is one delicious leafy veggie that is rich in magnesium and is stress busting. A good portion of spinach and brown rice added in your eating routine can control the amount of magnesium in your body and reduce the stress and keeps you sane and energetic.

Dark Chocolate

If you are feeling a little off from your work or had a fight which you don’t have the energy to cope up to, well chocolate comes to the rescue. Grab a bite of your favourite chocolate to reap the feel-better rewards. If you crave chocolate when you’re on edge, have some, because who doesn’t love chocolates?

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is not just the only a fitting choice for breakfast but it is warm and comforting threat for the stress too. Oats are also one of the best food sources for serotonin production, the antidepressant hormone. When serotonin is low the anxiety kicks in, so to balance the stress levels of your body what’s more comforting than a warm, bowl of oatmeal?

Tea/Caffeine

A good stress relieving day starts with a cup of tea or coffee. And if you are feeling a bit stressed up from same tiring routine, stick to decaf and herbal teas! Drinking herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint or ginger can be wonderfully soothing to the digestive tract, which can help with stress by calming the nervous system in your gut. Just remember the calmer you is a happier you!