Coping with stress

Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused as a result of our response to what happens around us. Stress can affect anyone—kids, teenagers, adults and the elderly. At one point or the other, everybody goes through stress—be it relationship demands, work, household chores, children’s school, education, financial situations, etc. It is an inborn instinct which helps you deal with everyday difficulties. But, if it goes on for too long, it can harm your physical as well as psychological health making it difficult for you to handle day-to-day living.

What happens during stress?
When you respond tofactors that cause stress or stressors as they are called, your bodyundergoes many changes. Your nervous system and certain hormones getactivated.

These hormones quicken your heart rate, breathing, metabolism and blood pressure. Your body begins to sweat as a preventive measure to keep its temperature cool. These responses by the body to counter a stressful situation, helps you handle the event effectively and perform well even under pressure. However after tackling the stressful event, your body returns to normal. This natural ability of the body to deal with stress is called stress response. Any event where your body fails to respond in this manner can cause stress.

Causes of stress

A new job or responsibility.

Loss of a job or retirement.

Death of someone you love.

Divorce or marriage.

Financial problems.

Certain health conditions or disease.

Pregnancy or fear of labor or childbirth-related stress,

Changing residence or moving to an unfamiliar place.

Violence or injury.

Family conflicts.

Busy schedules, lack of rest or too much travel.

Symptoms of stress

Body ache

Feeling anxious or depressed

Feeling tired all the time

Constipation or other stomach discomforts

Repeated headache

High blood pressure

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Difficulty keeping good relationship with others

Weight gain or loss

Excessive drinking or smoking

Overeating

Irritability

Managing stress
Knowing the early symptoms of stress can help you handle stress better. Look for that unexplained body ache, restlessness or inability to sleep. Once you have identified these symptoms, try to avoid those factors that trigger stress in you. Often this may not be possible. So the best alternative is to learn to deal with those stressful situations by changing the way you react to them.

Some tips to help you handle stress effectively

Do not get upset with things that you cannot change, such as a traffic jam.
Prepare yourself if you foresee a stressful situation such as exams or a job interview.
Change is often for the good. Do not allow change deject you whether it be change of residence, job or relocating to an unfamiliar place.
Keep good relationships. After all nobody is perfect and people do tend to disappoint you at times. Talking to people often removes barriers and provides emotional relief.
Set yourself realistic, achievable ambitions.
Exercise regularly and eat a healthy, balanced diet with sufficient nutrition. Exercise will relieve you of stress and it is also a great way to keep in shape.
Get enough sleep.
Develop interest in recreational activities such as sports or music.
Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation. Deep breathing helps you relax and get more oxygen into your lungs.

Consult your doctor
Stress if left unchecked can cause a lot of physical as well as psychological health problems. If you find yourself feeling any of these symptoms of stress, talk to your doctor at the earliest. Informing your doctor early will help him or her take the necessary steps to find a remedy soon. Your doctor may also try to analyze whether there are other hidden health problems that may be causing you stress.

Coping with stress

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