The Effects of Stress

by: irida

Stress is an intense physical and/or emotional response to difficult and painful experiences, and surely every human being has experienced it, at one time or another. In general, stress is related to both external and internal factors, and neither one can be avoided. Most of us have jobs, build relationships with others, go shopping, and face challenges wherever we go. Any situation can turn difficult and the responsibilities we are confronted with on a daily basis can also become quite demanding and frustrating.

Internal factors determine our body's ability to respond to, and deal with, the external stress-inducing fundamentals we are always confronted with. They are the provocative elements influencing our ability to handle stress including our eating habits, overall health and fitness levels, emotional welfare, and the amount of sleep and rest we get.

Stressful events can range from taking a test at school, a job interview, continually dealing with rush hour traffic, to the death of a loved one. Excess stress can manifest itself in an array of emotional, behavioral, and even physical symptoms; they all vary depending on the individual and the situations he or she has to cope with.

Stress can manifest itself in various ways. Some people experience sleep disturbances � too much or too little-, muscle tension, headaches, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, gastrointestinal problems, and fatigue while others are more affected by emotional and behavioral symptoms. These victims can show signs of nervousness, anxiety, have trouble concentrating, and start to overeat, or not eat at all. They may feel a loss of energy and zest, and they may notice extreme mood changes. If that is not enough, they may find themselves attracted to unhealthy behavioral habits such as, use or abuse of alcohol and drugs, and they may take up smoking. Instead of getting relief, these sufferers are actually escalating their problem, establishing a complex and vicious circle, one it will be difficult for them to break out of.

A person with too much stress should try to eliminate some of its causes. Of course, in many cases this is rather impossible. A father of three cannot quit his job, just because his new manager is too demanding. That would be irresponsible and quite devastating for the entire family. For this dad, there is only one option, and that is to teach himself effective relaxation techniques, support systems that can help him to make it through the day without incidents. He could join a gym and exercise during his lunch, or go for a walk, maintain a regular sleep schedule, manage his time better so he can, before going to bed, relax with a good book or simply sit back for a while and listen to his favourite music. Sometimes, just a few simple breathing exercises can do the trick and restore a stable mood. Relaxation practices to reduce stress can also include deep breathing, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation techniques, meditation, Tai chi, and yoga.

Stress is a by-product of the highly competitive environment we live in, and as much as we all would love to, we cannot ban it from our lives. All we can do is assertively counteract its negative effects on us by learning how to apply relaxation techniques, and create a state of deep rest, which will inevitably neutralize the effects stress evokes. It will be quite a battle, but one worth fighting, as in the end, we can actually win!

Irida Sangemino is an international, multi-lingual, published writer/copywriter/journalist/editor with wide-ranging interests and a passion for living life to the fullest, yet with purpose.