Some stress can’t be addressed by simply avoiding the issue, however. Here are some other tips that can help you manage and mitigate everyday psychological stress to avoid triggering your psoriasis.
- Set priorities. Having too much on your plate is a recipe for stress. Eliminate activities that aren’t completely necessary, and start saying “no thank you” to tasks at home and at work that are too much for you to handle right now.
- Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. A busy, hectic schedule and variable work shifts can leave you stressed out and sleep deprived. This is especially problematic for night shift nurses, as working at night can interfere with your natural circadian rhythms. Lack of sleep can make you feel irritable and fatigued, causing even more stress. The best way to make sure your sleep cycle is balanced is to implement everyday sleep hygiene techniques. Waking up and going to bed at regular times, avoiding electronic monitors when you’re trying to get to sleep, and avoiding caffeine in the evenings can help you get a good night’s rest.
- Adjust your caffeine intake. There’s nothing wrong with caffeine — it helps the best of us get through the day. But if you’re ingesting too much caffeine on a daily basis, you could be making yourself more prone to stress. Caffeine is a CNS stimulant, and in high doses, it can make you anxious, jittery, and more susceptible to psychological stress.
- If you have a mood disorder, get the right treatment. Millions of people struggle with common mental health conditions like major depressive disorder, general anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Nurses are no exception – in fact, nursing is, If you have a history of any of these mood disorders, it’s essential that you make sure it’s being treated correctly. Options like talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and pharmacotherapy can help you address the underlying psychosocial and biopsychological issues.
- Eat a balanced diet. Psoriasis is known to have comorbidity with metabolic syndrome and related conditions like obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A balanced diet, rich in micronutrients is essential if you want to feel your best, and a poor diet can make you more fatigued or irritable and prone to stress.
These are just a few stress relief tips for everyday life. If you take proactive measures to keep your stress levels under control, you can reduce the frequency and severity of psoriasis flare-ups. There’s no cure for psoriasis, but when you eliminate psychological stress, you’ve gotten rid of one of the biggest triggers. For nurses, getting rid of stress is easier said than done. But if you can lower your stress levels, you can keep your psoriasis at bay.