Stress Awareness Helps Breast Cancer Survivors Cope

It's no surprise to me that yesterday was the deadline for filing your taxes, and today, April 16, is Stress Awareness Day. I just hope you noted your medical tax deductions, if you spent so much on treatments and related costs for yourself or family members. That's one good reason for saving all those receipts all year long.
If you're dealing with breast cancer - yours or someone else's - you already have stress. You don't need a day set aside to "be aware" of stress, because you live with it, you cope, you ride out the emotions, and you survive. As a patient and survivor, you have already felt how stress impacts your health. Higher levels of stress affect your sleep patterns, energy for the day, headache frequency, blood pressure, appetite, and fatigue. In turn, that can influence the emotions that you may feel saddled with - depression, social isolation, fear, anger, frustration.
Here's some good ways to de-stress today:

• Exercise regularly at least a little, or as much as you can. It may lift your mood.
• Eat a healthy diet and include anticancer choices in each meal.
• Blow off smoking and alcohol - skip the extra damage these do to you.
• Reach out for support - get on social media, call a friend, find a support group.
• Have quiet time, try meditation, prayer, or journaling.
• Be yourself, without pushing yourself to be a Super Hero.

Not all types of stress are bad - it can be a great motivator! But stress unchecked can start to rule your life and ruin your days. Check in with yourself if you're getting overwhelmed, step back and think about where you're going. Shed excess stress and avoid stress triggers when you can. You'll be healthier and happier for it.