{"id":10156,"date":"2017-04-18T13:11:28","date_gmt":"2017-04-18T19:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=10156"},"modified":"2024-09-27T15:36:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T21:36:18","slug":"embrace-manage-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/embrace-manage-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to embrace and manage stress"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

We all have stress, and we will never completely rid ourselves of it. In fact, some groups \u2014\u00a0 younger generations and women \u2014 are reporting higher stress levels than decades before, according to the American Psychological Association.<\/p>\n

Though the human protective fight-or-flight stress response and its relationship to lifestyle overload and disease has been studied since the early 1900s, few people have the tools to manage stress.<\/p>\n

Deanna O\u2019Connell, registered dietitian and UCHealth Community Health educator, teaches\u00a0tangible tools for\u00a0mind and body practices that can bring comfort and regulation to the nervous system, emotions and stress level.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t totally eliminate stress, so what we need to learn is our triggers and ways to manage it,\u201d O\u2019Connell said.<\/p>\n

The body responds to stress by releasing stress hormones, and these hormones can make blood pressure, heart rate and blood-sugar levels go up, according to the U.S. Office of Women\u2019s Health. Long term, this can lead to health issues such as heart disease, obesity, depression and anxiety, as well as menstrual and skin problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cCultivating self-awareness with these mind-body practices can enhance both our health and overall sense of well-being,\u201d she said. \u201cStress affects our bodies in different ways \u2014 emotional, mental, physical manifestations that can cause health problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the educational session, O\u2019Connell will teach about self-awareness, while Kristin Glenn, MBA, will discuss strategies to get through life\u2019s challenges using the BrainWise™ curriculum.<\/p>\n

In the experimental session, Stesha Irons, RN, CNM, MS, will guide people though exercises they can integrate into their daily schedule at work, while Jen Strating, MS, will teach relaxation techniques.<\/p>\n