Its something we all talk about. How many times have you heard a friend or colleague say Im really stressed out today? Of course, many of us use the word stress very loosely. Often we simply mean that weve had a bad day, and now all we want to do is get a drink, sit down in front of the TV, and chill out.
But for more and more of us stress isnt just another word for hassle. Its something we face every day a constant thread in our lives that keeps us awake at night, puts us on edge all through the day, and fills our mind with tension and fear.
Do any of these phrases sound familiar?
I seem to be worrying all the time.
I just cant concentrate on anything and I cant get organised, either.
My memory is terrible these days.
I dont feel good about myself Ive lost my confidence.
Its crazy Ive got a hundred things to do, I cant start any of them, and Im bored!
Little things make me panic I find myself gasping for breath.
When I speak to people I find myself talking too fast.
All these things are symptoms of stress and sometimes there are physical symptoms, too.
I get headaches and I seem to blush for no reason.
I get attacks of dizziness in the middle of a working day.
These days my digestion seems to be shot I always seem to have heartburn or indigestion.
I find myself sweating when it isnt hot or shaking when it isnt cold.
I cant get to sleep at night my mind just keeps racing. And if I do get to sleep, I get nightmares.
My face and eyes seem to twitch when Im under pressure its very uncomfortable.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, then its possible that youre under greater stress than you think stress that could actually be damaging your health, both now and in the longer term.
So why is stress a problem?
In small amounts, it isnt. Many things cause short-term stress including a lot of things we enjoy, like games, challenging tasks at work, a difficult job at home, or a really engaging computer game. In most cases here the stress is very enjoyable, and the end result is a feeling of satisfaction a challenge overcome, a job well done, or a game well played.
Stress can even be good for us. For example, if we find it difficult to pay the bills, we might respond to that stress by asking for a raise or even finding a better job!
The problem comes when were under stress for all or most of the time especially when this happens at work. And thats an ever more common scenario, because our everyday working lives have become increasingly stressful. In fact, if the trend continues, then by 2025 around half the adults in the UK will be suffering from high blood pressure. And that isnt just a theory. Its the conclusion of a carefully researched report produced by the London School of Economics and its supported by findings from the Health and Safety Executive which confirm that:
Work-related stress accounts for over a third of all new incidences of ill health.
Each case of stress-related ill health leads to an average of 30.9 working days lost.
A total of 12.8 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2004/5.
June Davison of the British Heart Foundation has been quick to point out the necessary response. It is important to identify things that cause you stress and look at how you deal with stressful situations, she says.
Why?
Because if the stress continues, it wont just take a psychological toll damaged relationships, problems at work, and poorer quality of life. It will also take a physical toll that can lead to more serious conditions like heart disease.
So what is stress?
It seems absurd that something as intangible as stress can have such a dramatic effect on our health, on our lives, and on society as a whole. But it can, and it does so we need to understand it and learn how to deal with it.
First of all, then what is stress?
Theres more than one way of defining it, so here are two of the most useful.
Stress is the result of our own perception that the demands we have to meet are greater than our ability to deal with them. As a result of that perception you may feel out of your depth or at the end of your tether.
Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them. Thats the Health and Safety Executives definition.
In other words, stress has a great deal to do with the way we look at our own lives. If we feel we can cope with the pressures and demands on our time, our abilities and our money then theres no problem. If we cant, we feel stressed.
So why does that produce physical symptoms?
For the answer, we have to look back into our own evolution our development, over millions of years, from more primitive creatures. Because the relics of those primitive creatures are still with us.
Millions of years ago the ancestors of human beings were small reptiles with very simple brains. And its almost as though that simple brain is still with us, governing our instinctive responses to the world around us.
If you confront a primitive creature with something threatening, it has just two possible responses. It can stay, and fight or it can run away. Fight or flight. The trouble is that this creature cant tell the difference between a real threat and an imagined one. So even if the threat is simply something we have been thinking about the response is the same fight or flight.
And the results are very physical!
Your heart starts to beat faster, carrying oxygen and nutrients and clearing away waste products so your muscles will have the blood supply they need for intense physical effort.
As your heart beats faster, your blood pressure starts to rise.
Adrenaline and other hormones are released, helping to
give you the energy you will need, raising awareness, and sharpening your responses.
Your liver releases stored sugar for more energy.
Your pupils dilate to let in more light, so you can see the danger more clearly.
All your senses become sharper and more efficient.
Your muscles tense, ready for action.
Blood flow to the hands and feet is restricted, and they start to cool.
Your body grows hotter as your blood pressure increases, and you begin to sweat as it tries to cool itself.
And yet nothing physical has happened. Youve simply imagined, remembered, or anticipated something your subconscious regards as a threat!
Youve also started to programme yourself with this response. Which means that the next time you have the same thought, youll respond in much the same way but faster, and more intensely.
You may even start to worry about the response which increases your stress levels still further. And the result can be a series of unpleasant physical symptoms. Palpitations. Muscle pain from excessive tension. Insomnia. Breathlessness. Numbness. Tingling. Dizziness. Sickness. Fainting. Headaches. Indigestion and diarrhoea. Fatigue. Chest pains. Blurred vision. Nausea. Shaking. And, quite possibly, many more.
The good news is that once you understand stress, and recognise it, you can learn to manage it. Better yet, it isnt even difficult!
Dealing with stress
Stress arises because of a particular set of behaviours that we learn and repeat. Fighting back involves learning and repeating a different set of behaviours that will reduce the stress and restore calm.
So where do you start?
Well, here are some useful first steps.
Learn to relax! Relaxation is the opposite of fight or flight and there are many ways to achieve it. You could try meditation, progressive muscular relaxation, and deep breathing. Some forms of exercise like yoga and tai chi can also help you to relax better.
Find out what triggers your stress. Keep a diary or a log and write down the things that make you tense up or start to worry, and the things that make you feel relaxed and happy.
Take a look at your lifestyle. Are you eating and drinking sensibly? Do you take enough exercise? Vigourous exercise is a great way to get rid of the tension that builds up when youre stressed!
Develop coping strategies. Think about the things you do now to keep stress at bay, and the things you could do better when youre faced with a challenge.
If youre not sure where to start, then contact us for free self-assessment questionnaire. Itll give you a quick insight into the areas where you may need to do more work. For your copy, send an email to contact@freefromstress.co.uk with self-assessment in the subject field. Or visit http://www.freefromstress.co.uk where you can find articles and tips on managing stress and achieving well-being.
We look forward to hearing from you!
