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What is Stress?
| Published: 15th April 2008 23:26 |
Life follows a natural rhythm, with periods of activity followed by periods of rest. Too much stimulation, or an over-reaction to stimulation, leads to a state of stress.
Stress can also occur when we are under-stimulated due to boredom, lack of mental stimulation or physical activity.
Stress is a normal part of life, and in the proper proportion, is essential for us to remain motivated and energised. When stress builds up to an overload state, then we fail to cope and our body takes the strain.
The causes
Our daily lives are usually packed full, with many demands on our time, emotional demands, conflicts, upsets, frustrations and so on. Balancing work and family needs can be immensely stressful, and consequently we may find that we fail to do justice to or enjoy either. The degree to which stressful events impact on us depends very much on our approach to the challenges or problems we encounter, and so is to an extent self-imposed.
Some common causes of stress are:
Juggling demands of work and family
Overwork
Changes and strains in relationships
Lack of money
Perfectionism
A lack of control over events at work or home
Pressure/unrealistic expectations at work
Health problems
Effects of / symptoms of stress
The effect of stress can manifest itself in many ways, physically and emotionally. It is an important defence against stress to recognise these symptoms and then take positive steps to minimise the impact. How many of the following are you or have you experienced?:
Emotional
Constantly on edge/short fuse/anger
On verge of tears
Difficulty concentrating/decision-making/poor memory
Feeling of not being able to cope
No sense of fun/enjoyment in life
Mistrustful of people
Depression
Physical
Always tired
Disturbed and unrefreshing sleep
Poor appetite
Vulnerable to infection
Stomach & intestinal problems
Tense muscles & poor posture
Headaches
Rapid heartbeat
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
There may of course be reasons other than stress for a number of these symptoms, and you should always have them checked out by your GP. However, stress is often a contributory factor if not the sole cause of the symptom, and so taking steps to reduce or eradicate stress from your life will bring about immense improvements to your physical and emotional wellbeing.
Many thanks to Paula Heap from The Life Coaching Practice for this feature.
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