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Stress: What Causes It and How To Deal With It

Guest post by: Iris Barrow

Article Overview: Stress is our response to life's pressures - real or imagined. This article explains what happens to our bodies and mood when we become stressed. It also outlines the four main causes of stress and in each case gives practical and easy-to-follow advice on how to avert or deal with stress.

Stress: What Causes It and How To Deal With It

Stress - what is it? Stress is our response to life's pressures - real or imagined. Demands that cause stress are different for everyone; they might be a hectic schedule, the loss of a loved one, a divorce, perhaps the feeling that everyone is getting at us. Stress is a feeling of having lost control over our lives. I often describe it as a ‘lack of fit' between ourselves and the events and situations that happen in our lives.

We are all familiar with the effects and feelings of being overstressed, but are you aware that too little stress can also be counter-productive? Insufficient stress can lead to boredom, lethargy and a depressed mood. Sufficient stress (often referred to as eustress) energizes and motivates us, makes life more enjoyable and can give us a ‘buzz'. Too much stress is detrimental and can lead to distress on all levels - mental, physical and emotional - and can create unpleasant symptoms and long-term problems.

What happens when we become stressed?

Stress increases our heart rate and blood pressure. The liver converts its energy store, glycogen, into glucose which provides energy to the muscles and adrenalin surges through the body to give us that extra boost to ‘fight or flee' if we need to.

These effects are very helpful if we're in real and immediate danger or we're injured or very sick but can be harmful if they persist. If we don't make moves to reduce the stress, and our body stays on high alert for too long, we can become very anxious, and our mood can plummet which might lead to depression.

Chronic stress can affect our immune system and make us more vulnerable to infection and inflammatory conditions. Unpleasant physical symptoms such as palpitations, ulcers, upset stomach and bowel, and skin rashes can affect our quality of life and create even more stress. It is advisable to have these checked out by your doctor, especially if they involve the heart.

Stress can also propel some people to drink too much or take drugs to cope. This is just the tip of the iceberg! If you are suffering from stress, let me encourage you to do something about it. If you're not stressed at the moment, you have the opportunity to master the skills now so that you have them ready when needed. One of the most effective ways of getting stress under control is to learn how to relax. It's a great way to combat stress - start by investing in a Learning to Relax CD if you don't know how, or would like to be talked through the process - bliss!

Causes of stress - what to do to avert or deal with them

There are four causes - the exercises (in italics) may help you.

1. Imbalance in our way of functioning:

Not meeting our own needs, having our priorities wrong. Getting things out of perspective. Think about what you can do to meet your needs in a better way. List your priorities and ask yourself if they are in the right order.

2. Imbalance in life:

For example, between mental and physical activity; work and play; time alone and social interaction. Examine the question of balance in your life. Is it in balance? If not, what action do you need to take to ensure that it is.

3. Unexpressed feelings:

When we do not own, accept, experience and express our feelings, but suppress or disown them we are creating stress within. Talk out your feelings with someone you trust, someone who has big ears and a closed mouth. If you have no one to talk to, write your feelings out.

4. Suppressed and undealt-with problems:

These need to be addressed. They will not be released from the mind by simply suppressing them. Take positive and realistic action to deal with them. Talk about them with someone whose judgement you trust, or write down your problems and possible solutions then take the option that offers the most positive, practical and ‘workable' answer.

Note: An experienced counsellor will be able to help you work through these and offer you guidance.

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Article Tags: anxiety, causes, depression, drink, drugs, heart, palpitations, relaxation, stress, ulcer



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