Stress Got Ya Down? 🥺……..My Actifit Report Card: August 2 2025

Happy Caturday everybody! 😸😻 Give your furry feline a hug today!

There could be an issue with pictures tonight. If you can’t see them, please check out PeakD as they worked there yesterday.

Stress-it’s a problem in today’s world! So much to do; so little time to do it in. So many commitments that the average person has trouble keeping up with it all! Between work life and home life-well sometimes it seems there is no way out of it! Even our children get stressed nowadays! I asked GROK about what percentage of the population suffers from it. Here’s GROK’s response:

Stress affects a significant portion of the population, with estimates varying by region and demographic. Based on available data, approximately 70-80% of adults in the United States report experiencing stress at least occasionally, with around 30-40% reporting frequent or chronic stress. Globally, similar patterns emerge, though exact percentages differ due to cultural, economic, and healthcare variations. For instance, surveys from the World Health Organization and other sources indicate that 60-90% of people across various countries experience stress-related issues at some point, with higher rates in urban or high-pressure environments.

I know from my own experience that it’s definitely not a good thing. I asked GROK for specifics on how it can affect one:

Stress can have wide-ranging effects on physical and mental health, impacting various systems in the body. Below is a concise overview of its health effects, based on well-established medical and psychological research:
Physical Health Effects

1. Cardiovascular System: Chronic stress increases cortisol and adrenaline, raising blood pressure and heart rate. This can lead to hypertension, heart disease, or increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
2. Immune System: Prolonged stress suppresses immune function, making you more susceptible to infections, slower wound healing, and worsening of autoimmune conditions.
3. Digestive System: Stress can cause or exacerbate issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, nausea, or changes in appetite (overeating or undereating).
4. Musculoskeletal System: Stress often leads to muscle tension, causing headaches, migraines, or chronic pain in areas like the neck, shoulders, or back.
5. Endocrine System: Chronic stress disrupts hormone balance, potentially contributing to weight gain, diabetes, or thyroid issues due to elevated cortisol levels.
6. Sleep Disturbances: Stress can lead to insomnia, poor sleep quality, or disrupted sleep cycles, which further exacerbate other health issues.
   Mental Health Effects
7. Anxiety and Depression: Chronic stress is a major risk factor for anxiety disorders and depression, as it dysregulates neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
8. Cognitive Impairment: Stress can impair memory, concentration, and decision-making, often leading to “brain fog” or reduced productivity.
9. Mood Instability: Increased irritability, anger, or emotional volatility are common under prolonged stress.
10. Substance Abuse: Stress may lead to increased reliance on alcohol, drugs, or other substances as coping mechanisms.
    Other Effects
11. Skin and Hair: Stress can worsen conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis and contribute to hair loss or premature graying.
12. Reproductive Health: Stress may reduce libido, disrupt menstrual cycles, or affect fertility in both men and women.
13. Chronic Disease Risk: Long-term stress is linked to higher risks of obesity, cancer, and other chronic conditions due to its systemic inflammatory effects.
    Variability
    The severity and type of health effects depend on factors like stress duration, individual resilience, coping mechanisms, and socioeconomic conditions. Acute stress may cause temporary symptoms, while chronic stress compounds risks over time.

Definitely not a good thing!

I have an answer to stress! Albeit, not one to make it go away forever, but one to help in the moment! Get outside! Yes, it’s proven that spending time in nature reduces stress!

GROK always has an answer for me. I asked about stress and getting out in nature. Here’s the response:

Spending time in nature can significantly relieve stress. Research consistently shows that exposure to natural environments reduces cortisol levels, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood. For example, studies like those from Aarhus University (2019) found that spending just 20-30 minutes in green spaces—parks, forests, or even urban gardens—lowers stress hormone levels and enhances feelings of calm. Activities like walking, hiking, or simply sitting in nature can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, counteracting the “fight or flight” response triggered by stress.
Nature also offers psychological benefits: it reduces rumination (overthinking) and boosts attention restoration, as per Attention Restoration Theory. Japanese “forest bathing” (shinrin-yoku) studies show improved mental health and immune function from mindful time in forests. Even urban green spaces or nature sounds can help, though effects are stronger in wilder settings.

If you can’t get outside, perhaps fixing a picture book with photos of nature places would be beneficial as well.

Here’s some nature photos for your enjoyment courtesy of Lynden City Park. Enjoy and relax!

We didn’t go as far as usual as it was getting late in the day when we arrived. I always find a ‘fuzzy’ and this time was no different! Mr. Squirrel is always out and about in the park.

As soon as I took these two pictures, he ran off and climbed a tree. It was if he posed just for me!

That’s gonna be it for this Caturday!

Take care and have a blessed Sunday! Enjoy the rest of your day wherever you are! 🙏🌏🙏

👣🐑☕️🌞😎👍😸😻🥺😁🌻🌜🌙🥱😴

NKJV Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Selah
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.

This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io

Cycling, Daily Activity, Gardening, House Chores, Hiking

Picture taken by me and altered by cliptocomic app

@elizabethbit is a member of ladiesofsgs4eva
a sweet group of lady stackers of SGH

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