Feeling Blue? Sunday Sadness Is A Real Thing

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Many of us begin to groan and moan as our precious weekend comes to an end. It’s not just the interruption of fun with friends and family that triggers the Sunday blues, or what some call the Sunday scaries. It’s also anxiety and dread about the workweek to come. One study found 81% of more than 1,000 respondents said they became progressively more anxious as their restful Sunday came to a close. Psychologists call it “anticipatory anxiety.” Nearly two-thirds reported a restless night’s sleep Sunday night, which they attributed to job-related anxiety. And it’s not just because people hate their jobs: Even people who said they love their work reported anxiety over job expectations and workload. How we get stressed Fretting over something can trigger our flight-or-fight reflex, which floods the body with adrenaline. Pulse rate and blood pressure rise. Breathing becomes rapid, and the extra oxygen in the brain increases alertness. Blood sugars and other nutrients flood the bloodstream, supplying a boost of energy. If the brain continues to think the danger is there (cue work worries) the body keeps systems on high, triggering the release of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. A continuous flood of cortisol keeps us revved up and on high alert. You want to counter that stress by doing things that boost endorphins — the feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain that act as natural painkille...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Featured Health News CNN Mental Health Source Type: news