Did you know that stress can affect your poop? Yeah, it really affects you that much.

Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about the other effects that stress can have on your body.

Check out this chart that explains the effects on your body, your mood, and your behavior.

Literally any life changing event, whether it’s positive, like getting married or buying a new house, or negative, like paying bills or caring for a sick child, can cause unwanted stress. It is SO imperative to your mental and physical health that you manage stress and find outlets to relieve some built-up tension.

Managing stress is a challenge, though, and can be very difficult if you are unaware of what is causing your stress. This is where mindfulness can come in to assist with that.

When you begin to feel stressed, overwhelmed, or maybe even feel a physical pain or sensation when you get stressed out, take a moment to pause and ask yourself these questions:

What is causing you feel this way?

What were you doing before you got this feeling?

Do you feel sick or have unexplainable stomach pain?

How long have you had these feelings?

Do the emotions come in waves or are they constant?

Be intuitive and investigate your emotions. Maybe make a list of things that have been on your mind lately. Seeing these things on paper could bring some clarity to what you have been feeling recently.

Once you have identified what is triggering your stress, recognize the things you can control in the situation. One thing you can always control is your reaction to a given situation; taking steps to respond to events in our life in a healthy way is a great tool to reduce stress and anxiety.

Don’t feel like you need to do this all on your own either, there is never any shame in getting professional help. Life is unexpected and challenging and events are often out of our own control. Our minds are truly not prepared to handle every situation that life gives us so do the best you can with what you have and do not be afraid to seek help.