Stress
Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines,
frustrations, and demands. For many people, stress is so commonplace that it
has become a way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it can help
you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But when you’re
constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price.
Lets see
what’s STRESS..
Stress is a normal physical response to events
that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense
danger – whether it’s real or imagined – the body's defenses kick into high
gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, its STRESS.
Beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful
and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity,
your relationships, and your quality of life.
The body doesn’t distinguish between physical and psychological
threats. When you’re stressed over a busy schedule, an argument with a friend,
a traffic jam, or a mountain of bills, your body reacts just as strongly as if
you were facing a life-or-death situation. If you have a lot of
responsibilities and worries, your emergency stress response may be “on” most
of the time. The more your body’s stress system is activated, the easier it is
to trip and the harder it is to shut off.
Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood
pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and
stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term
stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and
depression.
Let’s
see the causes of stress..
The situations and pressures that cause stress are known asstressors. We usually think of
stressors as being negative, such as an exhausting work schedule or a rocky
relationship.
However, anything that puts high demands on you or forces you to
adjust can be stressful. This includes positive events such as getting married,
buying a house, going to college, or receiving a promotion.
For example, your morning commute may
make you anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make you late.
Others, however, may find the trip relaxing because they allow more than enough
time and enjoy listening to music while they drive.
§
Major life
changes §
Work §
Relationship
difficulties |
§
Financial
problems §
Being too
busy §
Children and
family |
Common internal causes of stress:
§
Inability to
accept uncertainty §
Pessimism §
Negative
self-talk |
§
Unrealistic
expectations §
Perfectionism §
Lack of
assertiveness |
Warning signs & symptoms of STRESS..
Cognitive Symptoms |
Emotional Symptoms |
§
Memory
problems §
Inability to
concentrate §
Poor
judgment §
Seeing only
the negative §
Anxious or
racing thoughts §
Constant
worrying |
§
Moodiness §
Irritability
or short temper §
Agitation,
inability to relax §
Feeling
overwhelmed §
Sense of
loneliness and isolation §
Depression
or general unhappiness |
Physical
Symptoms |
Behavioral
Symptoms |
§
Aches and
pains §
Diarrhea or
constipation §
Nausea,
dizziness §
Chest pain,
rapid heartbeat §
Loss of sex
drive §
Frequent
colds |
§
Eating more
or less §
Sleeping too
much or too little §
Isolating
yourself from others §
Procrastinating
or neglecting responsibilities §
Using
alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax §
Nervous
habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing) |
Finally, let’s see whether we are in stress or
not:
For this let’s see some questions and ask
ourselves-
§
When I feel agitated, do I know how to quickly calm and soothe
myself?
§
Can I easily let go of my anger?
§
Can I turn to others at work to help me calm down and feel
better?
§
When I come home at night, do I walk in the door feeling alert
and relaxed?
§
Am I seldom distracted or moody?
§
Am I able to recognize upsets that others seem to be
experiencing?
§
Do I easily turn to friends or family members for a calming
influence?
§ When my energy is low, do I know how to boost it?
|