What is stress?
Stress is difficult to define or measure. Some people thrive on a busy lifestyle and are able to cope well with life crises. Other people feel tensed or stressed by the slightest deviation from their set daily routine. Many people fall somewhere in between, but may have periods when levels of stress increase. Tell-tale signs of stress building up include:
- Not being able to sleep properly with worries going through your mind.
- Being impatient or irritable at minor problems.
- Not being able to concentrate due to many things going through your mind.
- Being unable to make decisions.
- Drinking or smoking more.
- Not enjoying food so much.
- Being unable to relax, and always feeling that something needs to be done.
- Feeling tense. Sometimes this includes a 'knot' in the stomach, or feeling sweaty with a dry mouth or a thumping heart.
Sometimes stress builds up quickly. For example, the unexpected traffic jam. Sometimes it is ongoing. For example, a difficult job.
Is stress harmful?
Ongoing stress is thought to be bad for health, although this is difficult to prove. For example, stress is thought to be bad for the heart and is possibly a 'risk factor' for developing heart problems in later life. Stress may also contribute to other physical illnesses in ways little understood. For example, it is thought that irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis, migraine, tension headaches, and other conditions are made worse by an increased level of stress.
Your work performance, and relationships, may also be affected by stress.
Average rating:
frances - lifeskills, about 1 year
I can assure you stress is pervasive and damaging. The good news is that stress can be reduced and managed with Lifeskills consisting, breathing exercises and gentle stretching exercises. Combined with good self care and self management strategies these will reduce the negative impact of stress and can seriously improve your health, relationships and life. Don't let stress control you! A simple stress buster - take a deep breath and let out a loud exhalation and drop your shoulders - do this 3 times! Just one of many simple techniques I use as a practitioner!, I invite you to try it when feeling a little stresses, Frances - Lifeskills
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