The dynamic and fast-paced life of the 21st century has accompanied a general increase in stress levels and women suffer the worst of it. Having shed traditional gender roles in many societies, women are now not only responsible for bringing up the family, but must also take care of financial stability and pursue careers. We will hence discuss effective measures women can take to fight stress during the middle age.
Stress in middle aged women is linked to muscle and bone problems, headaches, gastrointestinal issues and even dementia. Additionally, stress problems are increasing at an alarming rate. According to a study by Health and Safety Executive, the highest stress rates in the society are in women aged between 35 and 44 probably because at this age there is a lot of societal pressure to be successful and settled accompanied by paranoia about security in the future. Hence, it is imperative to address stress issues without delay since breaking out of stress patterns is more difficult the longer stress is allowed to persist. The following measures have proven to be very helpful in combating stress.
The cliched finding a hobby suggestion has been around for a while, and that is because it works. Focusing on short term tasks especially if they are repetitive allow the mind to relax and block out unnecessary thoughts. While gardening, knitting or any summer time activity is helpful, one of the most effective ways to combat stress is Hatha yoga. According to a study by National Center for Biotechnology Information, yoga led to a drastic decline in Perceived Stress Scale results which allowed the researchers to conclude that long term practice of yoga unquestionably leads to better health through lower stress levels. Other forms of regular exercising prove equally effective. Escapist activities which allow you to temporarily forget harsh realities such as reading, watching movies or painting can also help in lowering stress.
Another important quality required to battle stress is to have a positive attitude about life. One must come to terms with realities that cannot be changed and instead focus on aspects that can be improved. Cynicism or pessimism must be avoided and a more optimistic perspective adopted towards life. Writing down the good things in life and rereading them during darker times is another good way to make progress. Catharsis is an effective way to release built-up frustration by creative expression through art, composing music or playing sports.
A major reason for stress issues in women comes from the asymmetric distribution of power between the genders. Domestic violence and financial dependence on men in traditional communities prove extremely harmful for the mental health of women. One positive step in countering these problems is to seek help at a Discovery Houses. These are safe houses for women which provide shelter and basic necessities to helpless women who escape horrible circumstances. Additionally, they help women to get back on their feet by educating them or teaching them skills.
All in all, middle aged women’s mental health is greatly jeopardized and requires sincere attention as well as effort to be subdued.