Here is a list of less-known stress symptoms:

–         Anxiety / a feeling of dread

–         Neglected or lonely

–         Worried and tense

–         Sleep problems / fatigue / vivid dreams

–         Sore eyes / blurred vision

–         Bowel problems

–         Feeling dizzy or nauseous

–         Rashes / itchy skin

–         Sudden weight gain/loss

–         Changes to menstrual cycles

–         Spending too much/other forms of compensation

–         Biting/picking/itching skin

–         Loss of libido

–         Muscle pain

Stress is something almost everyone will experience in their life. In this day and age, there is a lot to cause stress. The stress could be financial worries, health worries, job worries, relationship worries, and the list goes on. What is important is to recognise stress and its many symptoms and get appropriate help or make tweaks to your life to make it less stressful. If you find your stress is your job, try speaking with your line manager to see if there can be any adjustments to your role. Speak to your friends and family to see if they can suggest any ideas or have gone through something similar themselves. Your GP will also be able to point you in the right direction for help.

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1. When you interact with an animal, you naturally produce serotonin and oxytocin.

Serotonin is a well-known hormone that stabilises your mood. Oxytocin is known as the ‘love hormone’. Stroking an animal produces both of these, equalling natural happiness! What’s not to love about that! Apparently, just 15 minutes of petting an animal are enough to boost these two feel good hormones.

2. They reduce loneliness

Stating the obvious – if you’re with an animal, you’re not alone. If you’re anything like me – I talk to my animals, I often catch myself asking them if they’ve had a nice day when I get home. They might not talk back, but just having a little one-way conversation with them will certainly make you feel less lonely.

3. They increase recovery rate time

Pets are sometimes used in hospitals, to brighten the mood of patients. Usually dogs, these clever animals are specially trained to engage with patients to boost moods and provide comfort. Patients were said to feel ‘perkier’ after spending time with a therapy animal. When I think about it, if I were in hospital and feeling anxious, and someone brought in their therapy dog, I think it would soothe me a lot.

4. The physical proven benefits

Animal therapy can play a big role in rehabilitating people. Dogs, for example, need walking -a simple type of physiotherapy. You may have seen Doga (it’s a real thing I swear, you can google it!)– a combination of yoga, but with your puppy pal. Animals are also proven to reduce stress – therefore lowering blood pressure in some peoples’ cases. They’ve also been proven to help cardiovascular issues and provide natural pain relief.

Overall, I think animals are incredible in every way. Having pets of your own is the best feeling. The loyalty, the cuddles and unconditional love. Also, the fact that they are also dependant on you can switch your, perhaps, negative thoughts on how they might be feeling. Switching your attention to something more positive. There’s nothing more special than animal love.

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Whilst I was going through my issues, I don’t think I looked for any blogs or people who wrote about their mental health but looking back, I think I would have appreciated reading some, probably for reassurance that I wasn’t going through it alone.

I don’t want to come across like I’m preaching on ‘how to feel better’, as I know that the same strategies do not work for everyone. I would like to think my blogs are a comfortable and helpful space, a place to find a couple of valuable tips on how to reduce stress and anxiety and promote a healthy lifestyle in mind and body.

I want to use my own experience to support others. I’m going to be testing mindfulness apps, theories, and techniques. I’m going to be exploring what works for other people and sharing my opinions about them. I have lots of ideas in mind already!

My main goal though,  is to write a blog people will enjoy reading. To write about things that are relevant to everyday life to keep a healthy lifestyle and mindset. To engage a broad audience who can all relate to this blog in one way or another. As always, any feedback is greatly appreciated.

The post Why I Am Writing appeared first on Cornwall Cardiologist.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, that a problem shared, was a problem halved. That was literally proven in this study. For reference, I have linked the Ted Talk in which I found this information. Humans are not meant to bottle things up. We aren’t mentally built to cope with things on our own and talking does help. A natural remedy. I’ve listed a few points about why and how talking feels beneficial to me.

Finding the right person to talk to

Sometimes you may feel your best friend or family member isn’t the right person to talk to.  And that is okay! But it doesn’t mean you have to bottle things up. There are other options. I don’t mean start talking to strangers, but there are ways. You may feel more comfortable talking to a doctor or therapist who you haven’t met before or finding someone who specialises in the area you wish to talk about. It’s important to feel you have chosen the right person to talk to. Some people appreciate that in a professional setting, as you don’t necessarily have to ask of the other person’s issues and are able to concentrate on your own. Other people may find that listening to experiences of others are valuable.

The right setting to talk

Talking to someone doesn’t have to be done just face to face if you don’t feel comfortable with that – especially in the current climate, we have adapted to use instant messaging and web/phone calls to keep in touch. Some people find it easier to open up when they don’t have to face a person. You may feel like you want to rehearse what you want to say – and writing that all down before sending it to someone would help.

Talking when you feel ready

Do not feel pressured into talking when you do not feel ready to. Sometimes you need to take a few moments, or longer, to look back and reflect or consider what you want to say. It’s important to do things in your own time. Timing is important to make sure you do not feel rushed.

Knowing your opinions, problems and thoughts are heard

I think this is the most important thing about talking – knowing someone cares about what you’re saying. It’s the most beneficial part, feeling like someone understands and wants to listen, even if it can’t be resolved. No matter what the issue might be, if it’s real to you and you feel you need to talk about it, it should be recognised. Talking about things may not feel so beneficial if you don’t feel listened to – another reason why it’s important to find the right person to talk to.

I feel like we are always told to ‘open up’ and ‘to not be afraid to ask for help’. It takes a lot to get to a position where we feel we can be open and real with how we might feel. This could be because when you say it aloud it becomes more real, or whether you feel like a burden for speaking to someone, or just worried of how someone might react.

I think I’ve felt all of those to some degree and I know a lot of other people will have as well. But I know after talking, I’ve felt a sense of relief. It’s truly worth it.

The post Why It’s Good to Talk – How It Is Beneficial appeared first on Cornwall Cardiologist.