5 Ways Stress Management Boosts Your Overall Health

Man sits on bed contemplating stress

Lots of people boast about stress, as if it’s a show of strength to be stressed out most of the time. In fact, not handling your stress well can lead to physical and mental health problems, as well as reduced wellness and quality of life. There’s nothing positive about always being stressed!

Even in today’s fast-paced world, it’s possible to protect yourself and your health from the negative impacts of stress. At Nugent Family Counseling Center, Dr. Geoff Nugent and his team provide stress management and support to new and existing patients. We have locations in San Jose, California, Los Gatos, California, and Reno, Nevada.

How could you benefit from stress relief? Here are just some of the ways your wellness benefits from better stress management.

1. Control your blood pressure

High blood pressure, known as the silent killer, is more likely to negatively affect you as you get older. Stress management is an important part of keeping your blood pressure under control. Learning better stress management techniques can actually extend your lifespan in this way!

2. Boost your immune system

When your body is dedicating resources to responding to stress by activating your “fight or flight” mode, it depletes other parts of your physical health and wellness, including your immune system. That means when invading germs enter your body, your immune system might not be able to fight them off, resulting in illness and increased risks of infection.

Improving the way you handle stress is a great way to get through the last months of cold and flu season without spending too much of your time sick.

3. Restore your digestion

Have you ever noticed that your digestion is affected by your stress levels? Maybe stress makes you feel nauseated, leading you to skip meals too often. Or, maybe stress impacts your eliminatory system, resulting in diarrhea, loose stools, or constipation. 

The digestive impacts of stress are well-documented, and can become a real problem without improved stress management.

4. Improve your sleep

Stress often interferes with your ability to get a good night’s sleep. You might lay awake tossing and turning, reviewing situations or making mental plans, and experience insomnia as part of your stress response. Stress can also cause uncomfortable dreams and frequent waking, so that you don’t feel rested and refreshed in the morning.

Stress management techniques may be a key part of improving your sleep quality. When you manage stress better throughout the day, there’s less of an issue to deal with at bedtime. And, techniques like meditation can help your brain prepare to embrace restful, healthy sleep.

5. Protect yourself from addiction

High stress levels increase your risk of substance abuse and addiction. You can protect yourself from becoming dependent on substances like drugs and alcohol by learning techniques to reduce your stress response, organize your life, and manage your mood. And, the team of counselors at Nugent Family Counseling Center is here to help with that!

We use a variety of proven therapeutic techniques for effective professional stress management support. To learn more, contact Nugent Family Counseling Center today. Schedule your initial appointment over the phone, or book your session with a member of our team online now.