Stress In... Stress OUT
-Gee
A growing concern today among many Americans is the economic crisis and the country’s health care issues. The holiday season also brings economic hardships and stress. I don’t mean to sound like a scrooge, but between the eggnog, crazy relatives and gifts I’ll never use, my stomach is already turning. Do Americans need to worry about the stresses surrounding them and their direct affect on their health? With the state of our economy and the holidays approaching, just how much harm are we doing to our physical, emotional and mental health? Stress is the body’s response to danger, issues, and events out of our control. I would find it hard to believe to learn that not one person is feeling some sort of stress due to these current conditions; and if you are one of the fortunate ones who are doing just fine, relay this information to those you know need it.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that when you're stressed for long periods of time, you have higher levels of the hormone cortisol in your bloodstream, which puts you at a greater risk for heart disease, sleep problems, digestive problems and depression. This fight-or-flight response (also known as stress response) speeds up your heart rate, increases your breathing rate and gives you a burst of energy. In cases where you have been in unsafe circumstances, these reactions help you to get out of danger. However, in instances where you are just mentally or emotionally stressed out, it can have harmful affects on your health.
There are two types of stress: eustress and distress. Eustress can be experienced in such instances as getting married, studying for a test, playing in a basketball game, graduating high school, etc. In other words these are life’s events that may cause stress, but are more so due to nerves over something exciting or nervousness before reaching a goal. Distress is the mishandling of stress, (e.g., road rage or fights). ACS agrees that stress weakens your immune system and can negatively affect your behaviors. So before you go insane and get yourself thrown into a psych facility, pay close attention. Here are some symptoms and conditions to be aware of: Acute Stress (Short-Term)
It would be impossible to remove stress from our lives completely, but we can be wiser with how we handle stress. The key to managing stress is to turn your distress into eustress. Positive energy will always keep you moving in the right direction. Keeping things simple and allowing your decisions to literally simplify your life. Good decision-making skills take time to develop. Some of us are naturals at it and the rest of us need a little extra assistance with handling life’s uncontrollable circumstances. Let’s face it, there are crazy people among us and we must learn to deal with them. WebMD has some great suggestions on how to manage stress:
The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that when you're stressed for long periods of time, you have higher levels of the hormone cortisol in your bloodstream, which puts you at a greater risk for heart disease, sleep problems, digestive problems and depression. This fight-or-flight response (also known as stress response) speeds up your heart rate, increases your breathing rate and gives you a burst of energy. In cases where you have been in unsafe circumstances, these reactions help you to get out of danger. However, in instances where you are just mentally or emotionally stressed out, it can have harmful affects on your health.
There are two types of stress: eustress and distress. Eustress can be experienced in such instances as getting married, studying for a test, playing in a basketball game, graduating high school, etc. In other words these are life’s events that may cause stress, but are more so due to nerves over something exciting or nervousness before reaching a goal. Distress is the mishandling of stress, (e.g., road rage or fights). ACS agrees that stress weakens your immune system and can negatively affect your behaviors. So before you go insane and get yourself thrown into a psych facility, pay close attention. Here are some symptoms and conditions to be aware of: Acute Stress (Short-Term)
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Upset stomach, nausea or diarrhea
- Increased heart rate
- Headaches
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Increased breathing rate
- Weakened immune system
- Depression
- Emotional instability
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal heartbeat (Arrhythmia)
- Blood clots
- Hardening of the arteries (Atherosclerosis)
- Coronary heart disease
- Stomach problems, such as GERD, IBS and Ulcers
- Erection problems
- Painful menstrual periods
- Fertility issues
- Worsened asthma and COPD conditions
- Worsened acne
It would be impossible to remove stress from our lives completely, but we can be wiser with how we handle stress. The key to managing stress is to turn your distress into eustress. Positive energy will always keep you moving in the right direction. Keeping things simple and allowing your decisions to literally simplify your life. Good decision-making skills take time to develop. Some of us are naturals at it and the rest of us need a little extra assistance with handling life’s uncontrollable circumstances. Let’s face it, there are crazy people among us and we must learn to deal with them. WebMD has some great suggestions on how to manage stress:
- Learn better ways to manage your time. You may get more done with less stress if you make a schedule. Think about which things are most important, and do those first.
- Find better ways to cope. Look at how you have been dealing with stress. Be honest about what works and what does not. Think about other things that might work better.
- Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat well. Don't smoke. Limit how much alcohol you drink.
- Try out new ways of thinking. When you find yourself starting to worry, try to stop the thoughts. Work on letting go of things you cannot change. Learn to say "no."
- Speak up. Not being able to talk about your needs and concerns creates stress and can make negative feelings worse. Assertive communication can help you express how you feel in a thoughtful, tactful way.
- Ask for help. People who have a strong network of family and friends manage stress better.
