Our subject of focus for the past few days has been rather grim. Nevertheless, we hope that you have been keeping up with us, as mental health is becoming increasingly important in our high-stress fast-paced world of the 21st century. To round off our mini-series on mental health, we thought we'd share some tips on coping with stress. What is health? 
Have you wondered, why the growing emphasis on mental health? This is because as medicine evolved throughout the years, healthcare professionals have come to realise that there is more to health than just the physical aspect. The World Health Organisation defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". This requires us to take a holistic approach to keeping ourselves healthy! Effects of stress on mental and physical health 
Deteriorating mental health can be attributed to rising levels of stress. A huge part of this stress is financial stress, as stagnating incomes are juxtaposed against constant year-on-year inflation that increases costs of living. Other aspects may include academic/occupational stress, emotional stress, and psychological stress. All these forms of stress can be overwhelming at times, leading to poor mental health in the long term. The effects, however, are not solely confined to the mind. Poor mental health can lead to poor physical health. High stress levels can eventually wear down your immune system (causing more frequent bouts of illnesses) and increase your risk for various diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and gastrointestinal problems. Is stress necessarily bad? 
Stress can be divided into eustress and distress. Eustress is the good version of stress that positively impacts your health, motivation, performance, and well-being. For example, learning something new or receiving a promotion at work. Eustress however quickly turns into distress the moment the new challenges we face exceed our capacity to cope. Distress causes anxiety and a reduction in performance - this is often what we actually mean when we say that we are stressed. In extreme cases, distress can lead to mental breakdowns and burnouts. Coping with stress 
To build our resilience towards distress, there are actually several methods we can employ to cope with stress before it becomes too much. First would of course be to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Staying physically healthy can help keep yourself mentally healthy. Furthermore, regular exercise helps to release endorphins, chemicals which generate positive feelings. Good time management and planning helps a lot too! A structured approach towards overcoming your obstacles can greatly alleviate your feelings of being overwhelmed and provide a way to tackle them one by one. Sufficient sleep will also help you feel well rested and fresh in the morning, allowing you to prepare for a new day. Additionally, taking a break from your stressors and engaging in your hobbies once in a while can help reset your mood. If all else fails, try unwrapping that bar of dark chocolate in the fridge and taking a bite - eating dark chocolate can boost serotonin and endorphin levels, making it a mild natural antidepressant. You've got this! Note: the above coping methods have limited effectiveness for people struggling with clinical depression. In such cases, please seek professional advice and support. This post was sponsored by Scott's Shavers.
