Stress Facts

It has physical, mental and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can compel us to action. It can result in a new lease on life and an enthusiastic creative approach to our work and environment, enabling us to enjoy life intensely. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of fatigue, distrust, resentment, bitterness, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, ulcers, skin rashes, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke.

With the death of a loved one, a move to a new environment, the birth of a child, a job promotion or a new relationship, we experience stress as we learn to readjust and manage our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it. Stress helps us to adapt to change - the only constant in life!

The stress response isn't all bad. When functioning properly, it is very good for you. Problems develop when your stress response overreacts or keeps acting when it's no longer needed. The deciding factor lies in your ability to handle it.

The different types of stress

- missing the bus

- breaking hard to prevent an accident

- presenting a business proposal

- losing your movie tickets.

- working late once in a while to meet a deadline

- preparing for a wedding

- temporary absence of a partner or child.

- divorce

- moving house or relocating to another country

- death of a child or spouse

- a constant feeling of fear for the lives of loved ones

- financial difficulties.

If fear and worry are allowed free reign for an extended period and you can't fight or run away from situations you perceive as stressful, all the unused stress chemicals will be coursing through your blood stream and into the cells.

The internal dialogue is never-ending. This self-induced stressful state of mind goes on and on, flowing over into the time meant for relaxing. You might experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. The stress carries over into the body's period of restoration and repair. If this goes on it can lead to mind-body ailments and illnesses, such as high blood pressure, peptic ulcers and even heart attack.

If this life preserving instinct is permitted to relax when there is no real danger, the body can function as it should. After all, most of our perceived worries, fears, stresses and strains, real or imaginary are soon resolved!

To maintain the perfect triangle of optimal health, it is only necessary to use common sense, with some practical stress management tools and techniques to keep our inner cave man happy and relaxed.

(Rework from Discovery)