HEALTH
LAURA MCNALLY Social media: @lauramcnallypt Email: lauramcnallypt@gmail.com Call: 07772187313
SEASONAL STRESS
T
his has been the strangest of years. Social media memes have capitalised on this, filling the media channels with quick-fire videos and pithy one-liners mocking the year and its events. Whilst these memes do make light of what’s happened to the world this year, they are relatable and we feel helpless to do anything but to limit our social contact which is so important for good health and wellbeing. It’s been a stressful time.
‘fight or flight’ response from caveman days. That response isn’t appropriate in today’s world especially when the stress is over the long term, as with Coronavirus, and when we are chronically stressed it leads to side effects which may present in ways such as weight loss or gain, exhaustion, alcohol dependency and anger. Add dark nights and Christmas on top of chronic stress and your proverbial cup is likely to be overflowing with dread.
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. This year has drawn greater attention to stress and many of you will no doubt have heightened anxiety and even developed depression and other psychological illnesses. Now the prospect of a lonely Christmas looms large and small choices become a big deal.
In Manchester, one study showed that psychological distress doubles the risk of developing back pain, and once you’ve had it, studies show that up to 75% of back pain sufferers relapse at another time.
In humans stress leads to the release of the chemical Cortisol which contributes to your 42
Stress can influence your sleep patterns, your normal routines and your relationships leaving us exhausted and so we turn to coping mechanisms like alcohol, food, smoking, and
