Manage Stress, Avoid Distress

In the journey of life, ‘Stress’ is indeed a companion which one cannot fully avoid! On a regular basis, all of us face umpteen triggers of stress in our life. What is important is how we are able to handle these Stressful situations and avoid the ‘Distress’ that stress can bring about.

So, what is stress?

Stress is a normal part of life. Many events that happen to you and around you, many things that you do yourself, can all put a stress on your body. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts. Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.

The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. Research has shown that some stress is good. Stress ‘fires up’ the body thanks to naturally-occurring performance enhancing chemicals like adrenalin and cortisol. This heightens the body’s responses in the short term.

Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. If severe stress is allowed to go unchecked in the longer term, performance will ultimately decline. Not only that, the constant bombardment by stress related chemicals and stimulation will weaken a person’s body, ultimately leading to ill-health. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress-related tension builds leading to symptoms on the physical body, the mind or mood and also on the person’s behaviour.

Some of the typical effects of stress on your body includes Headaches, Muscle tension or pain, Chest pain, Fatigue, Change in sex drive, Upset Stomach, Sleep problems. Stress can also affect your mood and cause Anxiety, Restlessness, Lack of motivation or focus, Irritability or anger, Sadness or depression. And finally stress can impact your behaviour causing you to Overeat or Undereat, lead to Anger outbursts, Drug or alcohol abuse, Tobacco use, Social withdrawal, etc. Unfortunately, when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try to relieve their stress, instead of relieving the stress these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems. Research also suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases, including Allergies, Asthma, Colitis, Constipation, Depression, Diabetes mellitus, Hay fever, Heart attack, High blood pressure, Indigestion, Menstrual difficulties, Migraine, Overactive thyroid gland, Peptic ulcers, Rheumatoid arthritis, Skin Disorders, Obesity and many other conditions!

Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think that some illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the culprit. Stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behaviour. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can give you a jump on managing them. So learn to recognise them early and mange stress before the harm sets in.

Some of the tested stress management strategies include Physical activity, Relaxation techniques, Meditation, Yoga, Tai chi. Begin your day with a brisk outdoor walk. Enjoy the beauty of nature, admire the freshness of the leaves on the trees, the beauty of the flowers, the serenity of chirping birds. Any other physical activity is also fine, as long as you enjoy doing it and you are regular with it. Learn to relax. Set limits to the tasks you agree to do at work, at home, in the society. Accomplish your goals and take short breaks to relax. Keeping a pet is also a great way to relax. Develop a hobby. Listen to music or play your favourite musical instrument. You could also learn the ancient art of meditation and yoga. Meditation calms the mind and brings peace and equilibrium to one’s existence. Learn to foster healthy friendships. Develop a good sense of humour and give up your rage and anger, no matter what the provocation is. And be sure to get plenty of sleep, eat a balanced diet, and avoid tobacco use and excess caffeine and alcohol intake.

If you’re not sure if stress is the cause or if you’ve taken steps to control your stress but your symptoms continue, it’s time to see your doctor, who will check for other potential causes. Your regular Physician and a Professional counsellor can teach you how to deal with the situation effectively. So do not hesitate to reach for their help.

Ultimately, in the journey of life, we play the key role in the direction it takes. With a positive approach and cheerful outlook one can walk through all the stressful situations with ease without losing one’s peace of mind and good health. So are you ready now to mange ‘Stress’ & avoid ‘Distress’?

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