During the holiday season, stress levels
can reach peak levels leading to many reactions within our body, including
increased anxiety and fatigue. Your body’s physical and emotional reactions to
stress are determined by your sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS
produces the fight or flight reaction in response to stress leading to an
increased heart rate, muscle tension, increased blood flow and respiration. If
you are constantly being exposed to stressful situations (ie. the holiday
season) this may cause your SNS to overreact and be constantly stimulated. This
constant stimulation can lead to depleted energy reserves and emotional and
physical exhaustion. It’s important that during times of high stress we learn
how to manage out stress levels.
Members, what are some of the ways that you
manage your stress levels during the holiday season?
