Coping With Stress - Part 1

What is stress?

Stress is defined as any demand (force, pressure and strain) placed on the body and the body’s reaction to it. Stress is experienced by everyone who is living, working, and breathing at this very moment. It is a fact of life you cannot avoid. All stress is not bad. In small doses, stress can be a good thing. It can give you the push you need, motivating you to do your best and to stay focused and alert. Stress is what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at work or drives you to study for your midterm when you'd rather be watching TV. But when the going gets too tough and life's demands exceed your ability to cope, stress becomes a threat to both your physical and emotional well-being and makes you feel anxious, afraid, worried and uptight.

 

What causes stress and its symptoms?

The potential causes of stress are numerous. There are many major events that occur in our lives: moving, leaving school, changing jobs, and experiencing losses. We also face many "daily hassles". These are events that occur routinely. Daily hassles include events such as being stuck in traffic, deadlines and conflicts with family members, and dealing with bust city life. The causes of stress are highly individual. What you consider stressful depends on many factors, including your personality, general outlook on life, problem-solving abilities, and social support system. Something that's stressful to you may be neutral or even enjoyable to someone else. For example, your morning commute may make you anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make you late. Others, however, may find the trip relaxing because they allow more than enough time and enjoy playing music or listening to books while they drive. Whether or not the source of stress causes significant emotional and physical symptoms depends in part on the nature of the stressor itself.

What are the possible signs and symptoms of stress?

Stress affects the mind, body, and behavior in many ways and has the potential to harm your health, emotional well-being, and relationships with others. 

How stress can affect your mind	How stress can make you feel
Memory problems. Difficulty making decisions. Inability to concentrate. Seeing only the negative. Repetitive or racing thoughts.  Poor judgment.	Moody and hypersensitive. Restlessness and anxiety. Depression. Anger and irritability Sense of being overwhelmed. Lack of confidence.
How stress can affect your body	How stress can affect your behavior
Headaches. Digestive problems. Muscle tension and pain. Sleep disturbances. Fatigue. Chest pain. High blood pressure. Weight gain or loss. Asthma or shortness of breath. Skin problems.	Eating more or less. Sleeping too much or too little. Neglecting your responsibilities. Increasing alcohol and drug use. Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing). Teeth grinding or jaw clenching. Overdoing activities such as shopping. Losing your temper. Overreacting to unexpected problems.

Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms of stress can be caused by other problems, so it’s important that you consult a doctor to evaluate physical symptoms.

 

Can stress hurt my health?

The stress response of the body is meant to protect and support us. When faced with a threat, the body's defenses kick into high gear. Our heart rate and blood flow to the large muscles increase, the blood vessels under the skin constrict to prevent blood loss in case of injury, the pupils dilate so we can see better, and our blood sugar ramps up, giving us an energy boost.

In the modern world, most stressors are psychological, rather than physical. Unfortunately, our bodies don't make this distinction. The problem with the stress response is that the more it is activated, the harder it is to shut off. Instead of leveling off once the crisis has passed, the stress hormones, heart rate, and blood pressure remain elevated. Extended or repeated activation of the stress response takes a heavy toll on the body. The physical wear and tear it causes includes damage to the cardiovascular system and immune system suppression. Stress compromises the ability to fight off disease and infection, makes it difficult to conceive a baby, and stunts growth in children. In an attempt to cope with stress, some people drink too much alcohol, abuse drugs, blame others (e.g. spouse or parent), and may become physically violent, most often with family members.

Health Problems Linked to Stress
Heart attack Hypertension Stroke Diabetes Depression Obesity Eating disorders	Substance abuse Ulcers Irritable bowel syndrome Memory loss Insomnia Thyroid problems Infertility