Simple tips to help reduce your negative stress levels during your recovery journey after ACL Surgery

It is important to keep your stress levels to a minimum while you embark on the difficult journey of recovering from ACL Reconstruction Surgery, higher stress levels throughout this journey will only cause more issues for you and this is something you want to avoid. So, in this post we will be looking at:

• What is Stress and how is it caused

• Helpful tips to reduce your stress levels

So, let's begin.....

What is Stress

Stress can be classified as any type of change to a persons mental or physical state, stress is the body's response to stimulus caused by either positive or negative events. These events can occur if something unexpected happens in your life or when a scenario arises that's out of your control. Stress can be either positive or negative depending on the circumstances, the effects of positive stress has on our bodies can benefits us greatly like improving our cognitive function and immune system however, the effects of negative stress can be quite detrimental to a persons health.

Effects of Negative Stress

Each person will vary from one another and all of the effects below may not happen to individuals given the circumstances however, here are some examples of the possible negative effects of stress that may arise:

• Mood Swings

• Feeling Anxious

• Lack of Motivation

• Difficulty Sleeping

• Aches and Pains

• Digestive Problems

• Dizziness

• Memory Loss

• Low Energy

• Muscle Tension

Tips to help reduce Stress Levels 

Negative stress can play a major part in our everyday lives causing us to feel overwhelmed with emotions, this affect can bring on more negative side effects like the ones listed above. So it is important to take the time throughout your busy day to try and reduce high levels of stress using one or more of the techniques below:

Exercise

• Exercise or any sort of activity that gets the heart pumping and blood flowing will help reduce the levels of stress. Exercise not only improves the physical health of someone but also during and after exercise your brain releases positive neurotransmitters called endorphins and these endorphins help the nerves system cope with stress.

Breathing

• The simple act of filling your lungs with oxygen and then blowing away the waste can allow people to feel the sensation of letting go of the worries in life. Meditation can help with this process as it encourages people to find a place of quietness and focus on their breathing for a period of time. 

Sleep

• Sleep is a great tool that can drastically reduce your stress levels and improve your rehab along your recovery journey. Sleep allows the body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert afterwards, without enough sleep the brain and body cannot function properly, thus leading to higher levels of negative stress.

Eating Healthy

• Now the term healthy can vary from people to people but generally a good diet would consist of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, grains and diary products that contain the main macronutrients like Protein, Fat and Carbohydrates. 

Getting Outdoors

• Stepping outside and embracing the world around us can be very enjoyable and can be beneficial for our mental well-being. Going for walks or a bike ride through the country side or in local parks can take your mind-set away from things you may be worrying about and place it in a more peaceful setting, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Now that you've finished reading what are your thoughts about the information,

• Did you find it helpful? 

• Have you ever dealt with these negative side effects?

• Are you about to start your recovery journey? 

Leave your thoughts, questions or answers in the comment section below and I hope you enjoyed this post 

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