Stress: The Reason Coffee and Chocolate Were Invented!

Stress is a normal part of life, but sometimes it can feel too much to handle. In this blog, I’ll look at what stress is, how it affects us, and ways to manage it. We’ll also see how coffee and chocolate, even though some people think they’re bad for us, can actually help with stress.

What is Stress?

Stress is how our body reacts to something it sees as a threat or a challenge. It happens because of a mix of hormones, brain chemicals, and how we think and feel.

• Behavioral Signs
  Changes in appetite, trouble sleeping, using substances.

The Science of Stress: Why Our Brains Love to Freak Out!

The amygdala and hippocampus are important parts of the brain for stress. The amygdala deals with fear and threats, while the hippocampus helps with memory and learning.

• Perceived Threat
  When we feel something stressful, the amygdala starts the stress reaction.
  
• Hormones
  Adrenaline and cortisol are released in the body, causing physical changes.
  
• Thoughts and Actions
  Stress affects how we think, feel, and act, often making us feel anxious or overwhelmed.

Negative Effects of Stress: How Stress Turns You into a Walking Mess!

Constant stress can hurt your body and mind. It can lead to lots of health issues, like headaches and heart disease.

• Mental Health Issues
  Feeling anxious, sad, mood changes, trouble sleeping, PTSD.
  
• Physical Health Issues
  High blood pressure, heart problems, weak immune system, stomach issues.
  
• Behavioral Changes
  Using drugs, eating poorly, being alone, putting things off.

The above is what happens most often.I also had trouble sleeping during my advanced-level exam time because of the stress. But some friends sleep too much because of the stress.

Positive Stress vs. Negative Stress

Not all stress is bad! The way I see it, stress is important to our lives. Eustress (the good kind) can push you to do better and take on challenges. Distress (the bad kind) can make you feel overwhelmed and hurt you.

POSITIVE STRESS	NEGATIVE STRESS
Motivates you, gives you energy, helps you do better.	Makes you feel too much, makes it hard to do well, and can wear you out.
Happens for a short time and you can handle it	Lasts a long time and is hard to handle, and can cause health problems.
Examples: deadlines, presentation, exercising.	Examples: losing a job, money problems, problems with relationships.

When I have an assignment, I feel stressed. But I should work hard because I really want to pass that module. But I saw some students who were not stressed and living freely. But they forget to work for their purpose (I am not talking about people who have done very well from the beginning and live without stress).

Stress Management:Keeping your cool when life feels like crap!

We can’t stop feeling stressed. BUT Good news! There are ways to manage stress that work. These are some of the methods that I have personally tried as well. These tricks can help you feel more in charge and less stressed.

• Enough Sleep:
  Getting a good amount of sleep helps your body rest and fix itself, which lowers stress and makes your brain work better.
  
• Relaxation:
  Breathing deeply, relaxing your muscles one by one, and meditating can calm your body’s nervous system.

In addition to these very simple methods that I use,
You can take a bath, change the order of the room, listen to music and dance.

The Benefits of Coffee and Chocolate

This is a good point for me as well😉. Because I’m a both coffee and chocolate lover. Coffee and chocolate, which people often think of as foods that make them feel better, might actually help reduce stress. They can make you feel happier, think better, and give you a good feeling overall.

COFFEE	CHOCOLATE
Coffee has caffeine that wakes up your brain and makes you more alert and focused. It also helps you feel happier by making your brain release chemicals that boost your mood.	Chocolate has stuff called flavonoids that fight bad things in your body and make it less inflamed. This can keep your cells healthy. Eating chocolate also makes your brain release endorphins, which are natural chemicals that make you feel good and happy.

“Times of stress are also times that are signals for growth, and if we use adversity properly, we can grow through adversity.” – Rabbi Dr