It is a common feature of modern life. Everyone experiences it and the best way to learn how to protect the body from it is to learn how to manage it. Stress can undermine the state of our physical and emotional well being. Learning how to manage it maintains our good health and vitality.
So many medical conditions are stress related. The increase in stress levels is a major factor responsible for the increase in popularity of holistic therapies. Stress relief and relaxation provided by such treatments can help people to control and manage their own stress.

There is positive and negative stress. Positive stress is necessary for certain people such as sportspeople or actors, it actually helps them perform better as they can concentrate and focus on the moment ahead. Negative stress is totally different and is any factor which causes us to respond by worrying, panicking or losing concentration.

How does stress affect us?
The body, sensing danger, prepares to face it or run away (fight or flight syndrome). Several systems shut down and the body works to conserve energy to enable movement and escape. Adrenaline rushes into the body to warn of impending danger: the heart rate increases, the blood vessels contract increasing blood pressure, the digestive functions shut down and the muscles contract.

If the perceived danger is removed or escaped from, the stress response has achieved its aim and the body relaxes. However, it is not always easy to get away from the cause of the stress. As a result, the body remains tense and cannot relax. It is this unused response mechanism which is so damaging.

Different types of stress
a) Survival stress
When the body reacts to meet the demands of a physically/emotionally threatening situation. The release of adrenaline produces the “fight or flight” response mentioned before. It is a positive reaction in that it enables the body and mind to react quickly and effectively. It is only when the effects of adrenaline are long term that is can lead to negative stress.

b) Internally operated stress
This type is often caused by a view or reaction of a situation rather than the situation itself. Worry and anxiety can lead to negative thoughts and often leads to a feeling that circumstances are out of control. It is the relationship between the personality and the stress. What may be stressful for one person may be exiting for another!

c) Lifestyle/Work-related Stress
Issues related to your life or work such as:
Financial problems, relationship problems, ill health, time pressures or deadlines, having too much or too little to do!

d) Negative stress
The inability to manage long term stress.
How to recognize stress
It’s not easy to recognize stress. In fact, as levels increase the ability to recognize it decreases. However, what we do know is that it manifests itself in different ways.
Short term symptoms include:
• Increased heart beat
• Rapid breathing
• Increased swelling
• Dry mouth
• Frequency of urination
• Feeling of nausea
• Tense muscles
The above symptoms can help us to survive in a threatening situation but they become negative factors when the adrenaline is not put to this use.
Excess adrenaline can lead to:
• Anxiety
• Frustration
• Negative thinking
• Reduction in self-confidence
• Distraction
Difficult situations are then seen as a threat as opposed to a challenge.

Long term complaints can manifest as:
• Back pain
• Headaches
• Aches and pains
• Excessive tiredness
• Digestive problems
• Frequent colds
• Skin eruptions
• Worsening of asthma

Signs and symptoms of stress

a) Changes in behaviour
Being argumentative
Being less friendly
Becoming withdrawn
Procrastinating
b) Changes in feelings
Losing your sense of humour
Having a cynical, bitter attitude
Lacking self-esteem
Feeling apathetic
c) Changes in thinking
Poor concentration
Being suspicious
Feeling like leaving a job or relationship
Being rigid in your thinking with resistance to change
d) Physical changes
Feeling tired all the time
Experiencing sleep problems (usually poor sleep)
Aches and pains
Suffering from back ache, headaches or migraines
Suffering from indigestion
Hyperventilating
Having palpitations
e) Mental changes
Suffering from anxiety or depression
Fearing rejection
f) Cognitive Distortion

People suffering from stress very often view themselves in a different way, for example; Counselling Spain note that:
Jumping to conclusions – even with no proof, stressed individuals may jump to conclusions. They may assume that others see them in a certain way or they anticipate that things will turn out badly and act as if their predictions are fact.

Although this was directed at the teaching profession in Scotland (Edinburgh), it is typical of the strains that we put on teachers across the UK (and, no doubt, the world).

As a teacher, I can fully sympathise with this.

Read the full story here: Teachers and Stress

Also, here are a few more views on the subject from the blogging community…

Teaching is hazardous – In sounding the alarm yesterday, National Union of Teaching Profes-sion (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said more teachers were now suffering stress and ran a high risk of getting cancer, heart attacks and high blood pressure. …

Student Teaching and Stress – Student teaching is stressful under the best of circumstances. Then, once unexpected events are added in, there is even more stress. At the end of the first assignment during student teaching, our family was presented with two …

Angelina Jolie has said that she’s concerned that family stress will drive away partner Brad Pitt.

“You have less time together, you’re always busy, you’re often tired in the evenings. So it’s something that you either learn to adapt to or you’re going to be in trouble as a couple,” she said.

I guess stress is going to be around for a long time for everybody!

More reason to find ways to relieve stress and spend quality time relaxing with friends and family.

Here are some more reasons to be aware of the symptoms of stress and how it can affect your health…

Stress is also a necessary ‘evil’ as it allows the release of adrenaline which prepares our bodies for the ‘fight or flight’ response whenever we are in a demanding or stressful situation.

In short bursts, this is fine. However, if stress is allowed to accumulate over a longer period of time, then it can have an adverse affect on our health.

Here are the [tag-tec]symptoms of stress[/tag-tec]:

1. Our immune system can be put under strain which makes us susceptible to bugs and disease
2. Anxiety
3. Loss of appetite
4. Depression
5. A tendency to ‘comfort’ eat

Also, if you happen to be prone to drinking alcohol or smoking, you may find yourself indulging more than usual and become dependent on these ‘crutches’.

Sounds depressing, but there are things you can do (see the Stress Relief category).

As a starter, try to improve your response to stressful situations that occur in your everyday activities and routines.

Take it slowly and one-step at a time.

Here are some more news snippets re: stress -

Stress and Anxiety Symptoms HELP! – Stress Symptoms information, treatments, cures, free Panic and Anxiety report. Stress Symptoms articles, videos, news, podcast, blogoshere and more.

Stress Symptoms and Causes and Tips For Stress Relief – Stress is one of the several methods through which human bodies react to the changes around them. These are different types of changes that occur in the environment on a regular basis. Several factors such as finances, work environments …

How To Reduce Stress with the SPARKLE Formula – It’s a stimulant and can exacerbate physical symptoms of stress that you may already have. Choose water instead. Avoid the escalator or elevator and take the stairs. Find opportunities to go for a walk. Ideally, get exercise that causes …

Family Stress Ups Child’s Risk of Distress – Researchers discovered maternal distress symptoms, family stress and lack of social support in the child’s pre-school environment leads to an increase in anxiety and depression symptoms when these children reach 12-13 years old. …

Concern…or Excessive Worry and Stress? – All such concerns are important and valid, but are we overly worried about them? This excessive worry leads to stress. Well, here are the American Institute’s 50 Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress: (more)