Common Stress
Stress is the physical and emotional tension caused by our response to pressure from the outside world. Common stress reactions include tension, irritability, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical symptoms that include headache and a fast heartbeat.
When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rouse the body for emergency action. Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper. These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction time, and enhance your focus – preparing you to either fight or flee from the danger at hand. It’s almost impossible to live without some stress. And most of us wouldn’t want to, because it gives life some spice and excitement. But if stress gets out of control, it may harm your health, your relationships, and your enjoyment of life.
What does stress mean to you? No money, new job, relocating, bills to pay endless chores and errands, and demands, demands, demands.
Every week in newspapers and magazines there are articles about how to cope with the high levels of modern-day stress. Research indicates that stress contributes to anxiety and depression, increased vulnerability to colds and ‘flu and to heart attacks and strokes – in particular, stress in the workplace is often the focus of media attention.
Not only can work-related stress result in negative physical and psychological effects for the individual, it can have profound consequences for employers. These include absenteeism, high staff turnover and poor performance in terms of quality and quantity of work. For these reasons companies are increasingly employing occupational psychologists to identify sources of stress in the workplace, both in terms of the work itself and the work environment. They also identify and give advice about suitable methods of reducing stress.
What to do to relieve stress?
It’s difficult to know exactly what to do to relieve stress. It seems that there are a multitude of supposed “cures”, but not all of them work with every person. It is actually quite easy to relieve stress by altering the way you think. This can be done quite easily with the right help.
To start off, stress management starts with your own perspective. You are the one thinking the negative thoughts that make you stressed. Sure, you have deadlines to meet, people to negotiate with, and a responsibility for your family, but stress doesn’t need to be a part in this picture. There are many products available to you over the internet that can help with gaining a healthier perspective to stress, and life in general for that matter.
Disclaimer
These pages are not intended to provide medical advice or physician instruction. Information provided should not be used for diagnostic or training purposes. If you are a patient, consult with your doctor about treatment options that may be appropriate for your medical condition.