May 19, 2013

How to recognize stress and how to deal with it

How to recognize stress and how to deal with it

Stress is one of the most common threats to our health. Several studies have shown that stress leads to heart related health problems more than we expect. Some people can shake off stress just like this, but most of us can’t. Our body’s response to stress is destructive and the effects can be felt and seen. The immediate response may be of internal nature. An example would be an increased level of our heart rate. An external sign of stress could be cold sweat and increased color in our faces.

Most people affected by stress do not know that the stress response of the body is meant to protect and support us. This process is often referred to as the “fight or flight response.” An increased heart rate is preparing the body to respond to a threat. Our ancestors responded to stressful events already in this fashion. Thousands of years later today, when we face a situation that is full of stress (challenge, threat), our body automatically goes into overdrive and protective mode, engaging the stress response process. Immediately, the body releases the same hormones that enabled already the cave people to move and think faster, hit even harder, invoke better vision, and hear better than they could only a few seconds earlier.

Most modern stress, however, does not call for a fight or flight response. Today’s experience of stress is generally related to how we respond to an actual stressful event, and not to the event itself.

It is not possible to live without any stress. Many daily tasks will confront us with stress. It probably starts with driving to work and facing traffic jam or road rage. Problems at work cause stress. A crowded supermarket with long lines waiting at the cash register can stress when all we really want is to get home.

What are the symptoms of stress?

Physical symptoms of stress can also be caused by other illnesses. So it is very important to consult doctor if symptoms do not disappear in a phase of relaxation. Common symptoms of stress are sleep problems, back, shoulder or neck pain, tension or migraine headaches, upset or acid stomach, constipation, diarrhea, hair loss, high blood pressure, and chest pain. You can probably tell right away that these symptoms could also come from other illnesses.

How to combat stress?

Learn to relax. Try some deep-breathing exercises during which you close your eyes, breathe deeply, and remove all other thoughts from your mind.

Exercise. Daily exercise not only helps to control your weight, it also works to reduce stress.

Eat right. By choosing the right food and by eating healthy you can easily reduce stress over time.

How To Eliminate Or Manage Stress

How To Eliminate Or Manage Stress

Are you a “worry wart?” Is that term familiar to you? It is to me but it’s been a long time since I’ve heard it used. I do remember people telling me years ago when something was really bothering me and they would say, “Oh! you are a just a real “worry wart”.

I don’t believe I am a “worry wart” now but some times things do concern me and I may tend to worry about it somewhat.
However I’ve learned most times things aren’t worth worrying about. Things usually turn out for the best even though they might not turn out as exactly you wanted them to be.

Worrying about things in your life can create unwanted stress. Stress can create many health problems. Millions of people try to chase away worries by eating too much, drinking to excess, taking drugs only to find out they can’t eliminate worry. As a matter of fact, they are usually creating many
more health problems than they realize.

I bet you, like I, know people who never seem to worry about anything. Either they don’t worry or they just seem to be able to handle life’s problems without creating much stress in their life. So how do they do it? Some have told me what helps them to conquer this is just stay busy doing things or going places.

For myself, since I’ve retired, I still stay active all the time. I have a daily goal planner that I use to record activities I plan to do everyday. (They are entered in my planner each day before the next day). One of those activities that really helps me relieve any stress I may have is some form of exercise. In the winter when I’m in Florida I ride my bike for about 30
minutes everyday.

I’ve also found that just relaxing in my lounge chair with some soft music playing is a great way for relieving stress. When I’ve gotten involved in some intense activity for several hours
I not only find it stress relieving but also it will eventually cause me to want to stop and retreat to my lounge chair for a few minutes.

It’s reported that doctors estimate that at least one third of all office visits are prompted by anxiety. One in four Americans will at some time suffer from an anxiety disorder. Everyone
can relate to worry, anxiety and depression.

In one of my previous newsletters I publish weekly I mention that the way you talk to others and the self talk you use (that’s the inner conversations you are having with yourself) has an
influence on your thinking. So what’s that have to do with stress?
Everything! If your thoughts are basically negative
you can bet you will be creating a high level of stress in your life.

Setbacks in your life can create stressful moments for you too. These might include job promotion refusals, financial problems, family situations, and even health issues. Willie Jolley says this: It is generally true that “setbacks are part of life” A setback is not the end of the road. It’s really “a bend in the road” And only those who crash are those who fail to turn, who fail to change.

The result you experience from setbacks could create a negative attitude. Your drive to compete could be diminished,
temperament flare-up could occur and a host of other things could crop up, too. You could suddenly lose all interest in everything you do. So what do you do about it? The first
thing you need to do is identify those things causing your stress. See if they really are as serious as you first thought.

That way you get an even clearer picture of them so that you become more aware of which are truly detrimental and which of those are not. Then the next thing to do is research ways to
handle them. Analyze them. Get the clearest picture you can of the problem. Figure out ways to avoid them. Go over them. Go around them. Look for an alternate route to handle the
problem at hand.

The main thing is, do not give up until you have found a solution. If this means “professional help”, then get it.
However try to find a professional who can treat you without prescribing drugs. There are many ways to treat this condition without using drugs. Using drugs might even worsen your
condition.

We live in a world today that is so fast-paced it’s no wonder people experience constant stress. Even though in earlier years when I was much younger I don’t remember people being as stressful as they are today. I guess maybe it’s because we are exposed to much more negative imput today then ever before.

We get that negative imput constantly everyday on the TV news, the internet, the tabloids and sometimes even
closer contact with other people can cause it. We can help avoid that imput by not listening to the news programs,
going to other TV channels and /or the internet for informative and educational sites and not buying those
tabloids.

In my constant search on the Internet I find many things of interest to better my life. To me, even though there is a lot of bad and useless information on the net, it is still is a good place to get educated and informed on any subject of interest to you.

I don’t claim to be an expert on stress management. I do know of things that have helped me and others but I’m still always searching for different and better methods.

Here’s a site I just visited today that has an ebook on the subject. I just purchased a downloadable version that I’m looking forward to reading entitled “How To Stop Your 67 Worst Worries”. They are running a special on it now for a very reasonable price. Go to: http://www.worryfixer.com
If you have even more interest about stress go to the Google search engine and type in stress and you will find
all kinds of valuable information on the subject. If you find a way that helps you in anyway I’d be interested in knowing about it. Email me at mailto:[email protected] wish you good luck and good health.

About the Author

Sonny Julius is a 74 year old retired sales supervisor.. His interest in the internet eventually led him to write an ebook geared to senior citizens. The ebook is a guide for living the senior lifestyle. “How To Have The Time Of Your Life For The Rest Of YourLife” For more information go to: http://www.absolutelysenior.com