An article by Pullikattil Simon

We have all had our share of stress..

I always was cynical towards people who complained of experiencing misfortunes. I used to say that they do not have a positive attitude and whatever they anticipate comes to pass. “As a man thinketh, so is he.”

But now I think differently. Some things can be learned only by experience. Some may be pleasant and some unpleasant. But it is necessary to have both good and bad experiences.

Last year we lost our house in a fire. It was a terrible loss because the property was under insured. My wife and some of my friends questioned me as to why this disaster should happen to me, a positive person. I myself did not know why! But I knew one thing. Everything that happens to me happens for good. What good it will be and when it will be, I had no idea. I will have to wait and recognize the good when it comes and be thankful for it.

Since the house that burned down was a single family home in a duplex zone, we decided to build a duplex. When we submitted the plan to City Hall, our architect found that we could construct a three story triplex. So now we have a three story triplex which gives a beautiful view of the ocean and mountains. Freighters and cruise ships from all over the world anchor in front of our house, and sea birds and eagles provide us with endless entertainment. We also have an income from the other two portions of our house. Thus, the fire was a blessing in disguise.

If the fire had gutted less than 70% of the house, we would have had to repair the damage and would not be permitted to demolish the house and build a new one. The fire brigade was a little slow to respond and that resulted in more than 70% of the house being burned. That little delay helped us, though that was not the intention of the fire brigade

Needless to say, during this time we suffered a lot of stress.

All stress is created by mind and the ability to overcome stress is also created by mind. Some events can create very great stress and calamity.

First, let us look at some of the damaging consequences of stress. An actual incident was narrated by Father Jerome Morella de Sorento, an Italian missionary in the Congo. A young man spent a night with his friend. According to the tribal custom young men are prohibited from eating wild hen for breakfast. Unknown to the visitor the host prepared a wild hen and served for breakfast. When the guest enquired, the host said that it was not a wild hen. A few years later the two met again. Again the host prepared a wild hen for breakfast. Again the guest asked if it was a wild hen and the host replied “Yes.” The guest refused to eat. The friend laughed and said why should you refuse to eat it now when you were perfectly happy to eat it last time you came. As soon as the guest realized that the breakfast that he ate a few years back was wild hen, he began to tremble violently and was dead in 24 hours.

What was the cause of his death? Was it the violation of the tribal custom? It could not have been for he did not eat the hen that morning and when he violated the custom few years before, nothing ill happened. It was the stress of the realization of his violating the tribal custom
a few years back.

Another example illustrating the deadly consequences of stress was written by Dr. John K.Williams, a member of the Board of the National Association for Mental Health. He wrote in his book, “The Wisdom Of Your Subconscious Mind”, that a physician was given permission to experiment on a criminal sentenced to death. The prisoner was blind-folded and told that he would be painlessly bled to death instead of going through the torture of hanging. He was placed on a table. The Physician made a small incision on his hand but not deep enough to cause any bleeding and a small stream of running water was allowed to trickle into a bowl as if blood were trickling form the prisoner’s hand. The physician made suggestions to the effect that he was bleeding to death. In a short time the prisoner died showing all symptoms of cerebral anemia. though he never lost any blood. Here again death was the result of stress created by his mind.

Dr. Holmes and Dr. Rahe of the University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, interviewed many sick people and found that their ailment could be related to stress they had suffered during the two previous years. They came up with a check list of 43 items to which they gave numerical values. For instance:

For death of a spouse they gave 100 points

divorce 73

personal injury or illness 50

retirement 45

trouble with the boss 23

Christmas 12

They found that if our score in one year is over 300 points, we have a 90% chance of falling seriously ill during the next few years. Homes-Rahe test is widely used for statistical analysis of the health of army personnel in the U.S.

It is now an admitted fact that 50% to 80% of all diseases are psychosomatic. Many cases of cancer are attributable to social stress. Ulcers, high blood pressure, arthritis, chronic back pain, skin disorders, headaches, allergies, upset stomachs, asthma, hay fever, impotence, insomnia, diabetes and alcoholism are considered to be stress related.

High school football players from families having stress problems are likely to suffer more serious injuries than those from other families.

But by anticipation we invite accidents to happen. Therefore, when stress comes, recognize the stress but realize and be confident that some good is coming and look out for that good that is coming.

When we cultivate this habit, stress will always end up as a benefit. Try it, expect it and see that it happens every time

In addition to worries about health and petty things, we have a long list of “what if’s”. For example, “What if my house is robbed when I am away?” You know the story of the woman who had 23 padlocks and 20 dogs to guard her for she feared she would be robbed, raped, and murdered. She spent sleepless nights in fear and trembling.

Some of us worry about what others think about us. If we knew how little they thought about us, if ever they did, we would get over that worry in a hurry.

The interesting fact is that though worry is the cause of so much stress, worry can be imaginary.

40% of your worries may never happen

30% of your worries are about events that have already happened and nothing can be done about them

10% of your worries are about petty things

12% of your worries are about your health or diet, your weight, etc. and will only aggravate the situation.

There is the story of the hypochondriac who went to see his doctor. When the hypochondriac was describing his imaginary diseases, the doctor was making short notes. The doctor was called away to answer a phone call. When the doctor was away, the hypochondriac peeked at the notes and saw the letters “SOB”. He was very angry. When the doctor returned, the hypochondriac questioned him as to how dare he make such remarks about him. The doctor replied “First of all, my notes are my personal property and you should not have looked at them. Secondly the letters “SOB” stand for short of breath and not what you think.

All stress is not bad. Medical investigation has concluded that under-stress can cause depression, indigestion, overeating, chronic irritability, fatigue, inability to concentrate, and many more undesirable habits. Too much or too little is not good.

Stress can be useful and necessary. If there is no stress on the strings, not a sound could be coaxed from the most beautiful Stradivarius and the highly prized diamond watch will not run for one minute but for the stress on its spring.

Too much tension, the strings of the violin and springs of the watch will snap and too little will make them equally useless.

Some stress is beneficial by stimulating and strengthening us. What matters is not the event which creates the worry but how we view the event. An event that causes constant worry to one can be a very useful challenge to another.

When we look at the lives of great people, we find that their greatness depended upon their ability to overcome the tragic events in their lives and to turn them into events of blessings.

St Paul wrote the epistles in prison. Charles Kettering broke his hand while cranking an automobile and hence he invented the self starter. He had a sign in his laboratory, “Do not bring me your successes, they weaken me. Bring me your problems, they strengthen me.”

As a boy, Edison worked as a candy butcher on the train between Port Huron and Detroit. One day he was late for the train and was running along to get on board. The conductor literally pulled him aboard by his ears. His eardrums were damaged and he lost 90% of his hearing. Edison claimed that his deafness helped him in that he could hear the loud ticking of the telegraph ticker amidst the chattering by people which he could not hear. This deafness led him into the unexplored field of sound and its transmission. He patented 1100 inventions in the fields of sound and its transmission, photography, and electricity before he died in 1931 at the age of 90.

When we are under stress, our awareness, our senses, and our mind are sharpened. We all know many people who work best under stress. But they do not permit stress to create anxiety in them.

There are many ways to deal with stress. Some of them are simple and are intended to get our minds off the object of stress. Some therapists recommend transient remedies such as a warm bath, going for a walk, cutting the grass, baking bread, writing down your peeves, finding out what we are afraid of and so on. .

Getting our mind off the issue is good not only for stress but also in dealing with many other vexatious problems.

Some other common ways of combatting stress are to take a couple of tranquilizers, mix an alcoholic drink, smoke pot, eat, watch television, go to bed and cry, take it out on our dear ones but these responses will only land us in greater trouble.

There are three better methods by which we will be able to overcome stress.

The first method is to forgive yourself for the past mistakes you think you made. There are many people who cannot get rid of their guilty feelings over such mistakes.

The famous writer, Guy de Maupassant wrote a story entitled “A Piece of String.” It is the story of a man who saw a string on a busy market place. He bent down and picked it up thinking he could use it. He was accused of picking up a lost wallet and was arrested and put in prison. Fortunately, the wallet was found the next day. This man could not get over the insult and indignities he suffered. He brooded over it day and night. The piece of string had become an obsession. He neglected his work and went from person to person complaining of how he had been wrongly arrested and imprisoned. He died of a broken heart mumbling “A piece of string.”

The piece of string became an obsession because he was finding fault with himself for having picked up the piece of string. If he had focussed on the person who accused him and forgiven him, the obsession would not have persisted, for he would have had to forget the offence and forgive the offender.

A wise man once said that when a person undresses for bed at night, he should also undress his mind from the mistakes and failures of the day. The art of forgetting is a virtue we ought to acquire.

Second method to eliminate stress is forgiveness of the offender. Forgive others for the offenses they have committed against you. We read in the Gospel “Forgive if ye have ought against any.” Some people say, “I can forgive but I cannot forget.” Henry Ward Beecher, the famous American preacher at Brooklyn, New York, said “Such a statement is another way of saying that I will not forgive.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “It is the lot of man to suffer. It is also his fortune to forget.” and we forget because we must and not because we will.

Little vicious minds abound with anger and revenge and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies. You will experience the release of strain, the relaxation of body and mind when you forgive a person. You have no idea what great treasure lies in store for you until you experience it. For your own sake, for your own peace of mind, for your own health, for your own joy, learn to forgive.

The third method is to control our brain waves. Learning to control our brain waves will bring great joy and pleasure . Meditation and yoga are the initial methods for learning to control brain waves. Biofeedback also enables a person to control brain waves and thereby gain control over stress.

Finally, when we search earnestly for the purpose of our lives and the Creator’s purpose in creating the universe, with all the living beings with human beings in the top rung, with the highest power of deduction and induction among all, we will realize that the Creator was looking for companionship. The stresses we experience throughout our lives are challenges to make us strong and fitting companions for the Creator.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pullikattil_Simon

However, you should not be discouraged. Stress can be relieved. One of the most effective stress busters is regular exercise. Here are some common exercises for stress  you could get benefit from.

Aerobics: One of The Most Popular Stress Relief Exercises

Scientific research has shown that aerobic exercises produce endorphins which help to reduce stress. When you take part in any form of physical exercise, your heart will beat a little faster and this increase results in a good boost of endorphins, thus making you feel more relaxed. Just taking a walk around the neighborhood is also a good form of exercise. Of course, if you have the time, joining an aerobics class will be ideal. Aerobics are very effective as stress relief exercises and give excellent results  in managing your stress levels.

Water exercises: Another Ideal Exercise For Stress.

The soothing property of water has a calming effect on our bodies. Water is cooling and refreshing. Naturally, if you go for a swim or engage in some form of exercise in water, you not only enjoy the benefits of aerobic exercises but also the healing powers of water.

When you are exercising in water, you are putting less pressure on your joints, thus promoting an injury-free environment where you can work out to your heart’s content. If you are feeling stressed, swimming a few laps will do you a world of good.

Yoga: An Alternative Solution Ganing in Popularity Across The World

If you do not see yourself as the physical exercise type, practising yoga can be very useful to reduce stress. Yoga is gaining more and more popularity across the world because it involves physical, mental and spiritual exercises. Yoga is known to improve blood circulation, flexibility and strengthening of muscles while it detoxifies your body too.

As far as stress relief exercises go, yoga is perfect because you will learn to concentrate and master breathing techniques to do some of the yoga poses. While you can learn yoga from many online sites, it’s best that you join a yoga class so you will receive the best instructions.

And What About Meditation?

One of the more popular stress relief exercises that anybody can do is meditation. This exercise is simple and effective. To begin, get a picture of the Buddha sitting under the tree with his eyes closed in a meditation position. Remember the pose and do the same. Just close your eyes and imagine you are under the tree. Then, through your nose, breathe in, hold, then, breathe out. Do this continuously. Think of nothing. Smile. All your stress will be gone.

The workplace can be very stressful regardless of whether you work from home, in an office, school, factory, driving a bus or other places.

Although good stress makes people stronger by motivating them, too much stress has the opposite effect, often making people irrational, depressed, and eventually affecting their health.

The benefits of stress management in the workplace are that it helps you to unwind and become more productive.  Some people suffering from job related stress start to think they have an illness because they have no appetite, feel exhausted all the time, have aching, sore muscles, sleep disturbances and are irritable and short-tempered.

Job stress can lead to injury and poor health.  People that treat job challenges in a positive way find it energizes them both physically and psychologically by motivating them to master the jobs challenges and learn new skills.  Having dealt with this, they feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Almost half of all the large corporations in the United States provide training for employees on stress management to help workers cope with work situations that are difficult and challenging.

Programs and training on stress management help employees understand about the sources and nature of stress, how it affects their mental and physical health, and ways to use their personal skills to prevent or reduce stress.

Some ways to reduce stress include relaxation exercises and improving their time management skills.  Although training in stress management often reduces many stress related symptoms, such as sleep disturbances and anxiety, it is also easy and inexpensive to implement.

Many large companies have found that stress management starts by improving the employees working conditions, even if this means bringing in a consultant for advice, suggestions and proposals on how to deal with the main causes of work stress.  This could result in organizational structure changes or changes in production schedules or work routines.

Along with these changes, some employees that suffer from stress may benefit from a combination of stress management in the workplace programs along with the organizational changes that took place.  Other ways for companies to deal with stress management,  include clearly defining employee’s responsibilities and roles and ascertain that an employee’s workload is within their resources and capabilities.

To give an employee a workload or a job that is beyond his or her capabilities will result in poor performance and stress.  By learning stress management techniques, it helps improve your health and quality of life on a daily basis.

We all know that stress plays a huge role in how we live, act and interact. Stress can be a pretty good motivator in certain situations, causing some people rise up to the occasion when others fail.

When you talk about extreme stress and high stress symptoms, however, you are talking about stress that may be the cause of a person’s downfall, or even worse, their failing health or death.

Stress is known to be a huge factor in a person’s physical and psychological wellbeing. In fact, it has been proven scientifically that high stress symptoms can cause or is related to illnesses up to 90% of the time. This means that if high stress symptoms go unchecked, a person can end up with major health problems that can either debilitate them or kill them.

Some of the more known high stress symptoms occur when a person experiences certain traumas like a death in the family, a sudden change in financial standing, the discovery of a serious illness and even a very demanding job. These can all lead to the emergence of high stress symptoms that may prove detrimental to a person.

The possible effects that high stress symptoms may have on individuals include physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual changes in the person. The most detrimental and serious manifestations may even kill a person.

If a person is showing signs of high stress symptoms, he or she may possibly suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure and even ulcers later on. This can lead to a few possible fatal scenarios like a stroke, a heart attack and other such life threatening possibilities.

Emotional turmoil can also result from high stress symptoms, which can then result in broken relationships, lost opportunities and depression. These emotional outcomes may even prove fatal if the person takes such losses to heart and decides to commit suicide due to such occurrences.

However, these scenarios can be prevented if the source of these high stress symptoms can be determined early on and the person that is suffering from these high stress symptoms learns to objectively accept the situation and cope.

If self coping is not viable for the individual, professional psychological help is highly recommended. Talking about what is bothering a person may help ease some of the stress that he or she is suffering. While it may not solve the problem, it can help ease the pressure that he or she feels.

Lifting some of the burden from your shoulders by sharing the problem with someone can help ease the high stress symptoms that may cost lives.

People live with stress from day to day and they experience anxiety every now and then. These two are normal parts of everyday lives but, when these two come together, you may need to find some aid in dealing with it.

Anxiety stress symptoms can point to a bigger problem than simply stress or plain anxiety.

Oftentimes, people who are in high pressure jobs and in problematic relationship or family situations are the ones who find themselves suffering from these anxiety stress symptoms. The problems get compounded by these feelings of anxiety and the stress levels go up along with it. Since stress is often caused by feelings of frustration or anger, it is also possible that too much stress can result in anxiety.

Anxiety stress symptoms sometimes take on a physical form because of the psychological anguish that a person is going through. The physical anxiety stress symptoms a person may experience can include:

• stomach cramps or other forms of abdominal pain,
• headaches,
• dry mouth,
• constant or excessive sweating
• and even some trembling or twitching.

Aside from physical manifestations, a person may also exhibit anxiety stress symptoms that are linked to the psyche like hotheadedness or irritability, lack of concentration or an inability to focus, insomnia and even a loss in sexual appetite.

Other possible symptoms may also include a constant need to urinate, bowel problems like constipation or diarrhea and an irregular heart rate.

These symptoms can easily point to problems and solutions to such a problem can be prescribed with proper diagnosis. There is also a possibility that these symptoms may stem from a recent bout with substance abuse or even be the result of a poor lifestyle choice. Anxiety and stress can be the result of a person’s withdrawal from substance abuse. It can also be a side effect of the intake of illegal drugs. Some of the more commonly known drugs that are said to cause these anxiety stress symptoms in users include amphethamines, cocaine and anti depressants.

Some other ones are even said to appear with the use of common medications for colds, asthma and even with diet pills. Dealing with the effects of these anxiety stress symptoms is often done with the help of professionals who know what is needed to ease such a problem from sufferers, however, in some cases, a lifestyle check and a change in certain habits and diets can also ease the problems brought about by anxiety and stress combined. It is important to get help as soon as these symptoms appear, or it may never be treated.

Relaxing in the Midst of Stress

Stress management is an important practice that most people nowadays need to learn. With a fast paced working environment, people are constantly subjected to tremendous pressure that result to unpleasant levels of stress in their lives.

You need to be able to cope quickly with the amount of stress that you have to deal with since it produces several negative effects on your body in mind.

First off, stress can cause your performance to drop because of your inability to focus on the tasks at hand. Stress can also affect your health and body. Oftentimes, stress can escalate into anxiety or even depression.

Relaxation is one of the best techniques used to cope with and reduce the symptoms of stress. Relaxation methods have been utilized for stress management during ancient times and they prove to be as effective today. Therefore, learning how to relax in the midst of too much stress in your everyday life will mean a world of difference.

Starting a Relaxation Practice

As with anything, starting a relaxation practice is often the biggest hurdle that people are faced with. However, this is the best way to mix exercise and stress control.

Once you begin to notice that you seem to quickly lose energy and constantly change your mood, then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate yourself because this can be all caused by stress.

There are several relaxation activities that help combat stress in your life whether as simple as deep breathing, stretching or meditation, to more advanced relaxation methods such as yoga or tai chi.

To experience the full benefits of such relaxation methods, you need to take time each day to perform them. Only then would you be able to harness its relieving power so you can benefit from stress relief. It does not have to take so much of your time each day, maybe at least 10 minutes to as much as 20 minutes is enough for stress management.

For better success at developing this practice, take note of the following tips:

• Determine a given schedule for each day when you can perform these relaxation exercises. If possible, schedule once or twice a day, whichever is most convenient for you. Then, make sure you follow your schedule strictly.
• Refrain from scheduling your relaxation practices near bedtime since you’re sleepiness could get in the way.
• Never opt for an exercise method that could stress you out all the more. Find a level of practice that are most comfortable and feel relaxed with.

Stress Relief Through Deep Breathing

This is one of the easiest and simplest exercise you can perform to achieve stress relief. This would allow fresh air to get into your lungs. To perform effective deep breathing, follow these methods:

• Sit straight with one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach.
• Breathe through your nose, enough to make your stomach rise. Make sure that your chest produce little movements.
• Use your mouth to exhale and push the air out with as much force as possible.
• Repeat the same process. Take note of the rise and fall of your lower abdomen.

Muscle Relaxation, Yoga and Meditation

For further stress relief, you can perform different relaxation methods that involve your muscles and mind.

Muscle relaxation:
Your objective is to tense and relax the various muscle groups in your body. To do this, find a comfortable position and start by taking slow and deep breaths. Then, create tension on your body by squeezing them tightly while counting slowly until its time to let go. Focus on the release of the tension in a specific body part until you feel relaxed. When doing this, start from foot and eventually move upwards.

Yoga and meditation:
They are also two other techniques used in stress management methods. These are associated with slow and steady movements, as well as gentle stretching. This practice is best for relieving tension in the body and mind, which is why it is recommended for stress relief practices.

Stress has always been known to affect the human body in more ways than one and these are divided into mental, emotional and physical stress symptoms

.

• Mental and behavioral stress symptoms. They often cover the psychological effects of stress on the person who suffers from stress.
• Emotional stress symptoms are those that affect the human emotion or relationship related issues.
• Physical stress symptoms are those that affect the body and the different organs of the body.

Each of these areas that are affected by the ravages of unmanaged stress has different adverse effects on each different area and may result in a number of possible scenarios for people suffering from stress. The most dangerous of these is probably the physical stress symptoms that a stressed out person encounters. The physical stress symptoms a person gains from a stressful existence may include any or all of the following:

• backaches,
• headaches,
• increased heart beat rate,
• chest pains,
• muscle tension,
• lack of sleep or excessive sleep,
• dizziness,
• nausea,
• muscle stiffness,
• muscle tension
• and frequent colds.

These may seem rather minor to some, but if left unchecked, these physical stress symptoms may affect health andresult in a person’s demise.

Mental and behavioral stress symptoms are also pretty dangerous to a person’s psyche and physique if left unattended. Some of the mental stress symptoms that may then result in physical stress symptoms include poor judgment, anxiety, indecisiveness, memory problems and loss of objectivity.

This may then lead to the person eating less or more than is necessary which can then result in ulcers or obesity or high blood pressure.

Other behavioral effects that mental stress symptoms can bring about include the abuse of certain substances like drugs, alcohol and the like. This can be due to lack of objectivity or poor judgment.

Emotional stress symptoms can also translate into physical stress symptoms after they have taken their toll. Restlessness, irritability, moodiness, agitation, the feeling of loneliness and finally, depression can actually result in emotionally motivated physical health problems.

Ulcers may even result when a person is nervous or agitated due to increased acid activity that is often the result of such an emotional reaction. Restlessness or lack of relaxation can also result in headaches due to the lack of rest and the constant activity of the brain during these bouts of restlessness.

Depression can also lead to something more physical, like attempts at taking one’s own life. All these symptoms can add up to a rather dangerous mix if a person does not know how to manage his or her stress properly.

The Dangers of Stress

Stress is a constant part of most people’s lives. Even if this affection is quite common nowadays, it still needs to be addressed given its impact on an individual’s health condition.

Did you know that when you experience stress, not only it produces chemical changes  in your brain and in your body, but it can also affect your health.

While some sources of stress are temporal, there are those that are produced over a long period of time so that it builds up. Before you know it, it becomes so serious that it affects your health in various levels. Even if you do not have any existing health condition, it can actually enhance your risk of developing them.

You can exhibit the following symptoms of stress, which eventually contributes to the health problems associated with stress:

• sleeping troubles,
• lack of energy,
• tension,
• headaches,
• depression,
• anxiety,
• high blood pressure,
• pain in the back or neck,
• weight loss or gain, etc

Stress Related Illnesses and Conditions

Continued research is being done to show more of the impact that stress has on one’s overall health. But despite of this, there has been several scientific claims linking stress to several health conditions from backaches to insomnia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

When a person experiences stress, it produces chemical changes in the body that consequently alters some biological processes. For instance, some women who had to deal with stress in their lives suffer abnormalities in their menstrual cycle. Others suffer from abnormal bleeding while some even miss their menstruation.

Aside from that, stress could also result to hormonal imbalances that cause symptoms for fibroid tumors and endometriosis to exhibit.

Another illness commonly associated with stress is heart disease. It may interven with your cardiovascular condition such that people with stress can suffer from conditions like heart attacks, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Other common illnesses suffered by highly stressed people include:

• fatigue,
• emotional disorders,
• headaches,
• ulcers,
• IBS,
• infections,
• colds,
• and even lowered immunity system responses.

Taking Care of Your Body

Having known the impact that stress has on one’s body, it is then important to take all the necessary steps to not only combat stress but also keep yourself free from any type of illness. Some people are too consumed with stress that they fail to pay attention to their body.

Be more sensitive to your body and health needs.

The following are helpful tips on how you can handle stress and improve your health:

1. Take time off work to relax. Give your body a chance to recuperate.
2. Get enough amount of sleep, especially if you are going to work excessively during the day.
3. Eat well. Include enough amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet, as well as proteins.
4. Engage in a physical activity during your free time. Working out releases endorphins in your system, which is why it improves your mood.
5. Never resort to unhealthy methods of dealing with stress, such as drugs, smoking, or alcohol.

Seeking Professional Help

When stress begins to concern your health, it is important to seek professional guidance on the matter. The case is more important when stress has affected your health to a large extent. Indeed, there are professionals that can help you deal with the situation and overcome stress so your health can recover as well.

But a person can be too consumed with their stressful situation that they fail to recognize when help is necessary. The following are symptoms of too much stress and requires immediate professional attention:

• sleeping problems due to anxiety,
• suicidal thoughts,
• loss of appetite often leading to weight loss,
• feeling of isolation or desire to be isolated from other people,
• high irritability

Effect of Stress

Stress management is an essential step for you to take once you have determined you are facing stressful situations in your life, regardless of the cause. Although there are helpful types of stress that enables you to cater this added burst of energy into something positive and productive, it is not recommended for your body.

In fact, long term stress can specifically produce negative impacts on your health and is recognized to deteriorate your health faster than some other diseases.

Furthermore, stress can reduce your capacity to perform and function well, either at school or in the workplace. Therefore, stress isn’t something to be dismissed. Aside from the personal impacts you can experience from stress, it also affects how you deal with the environment and the people in your lives.

How to Know Your Stress Level

When it comes to stress management, determining the source of stress is often not enough. For people who are often stressed, keeping a stress journal is highly recommended in order for you to monitor the different levels of stress you are experiencing and what effects it produced. This is an effective way for you to closely study your levels of stress, its triggers, and for you to pinpoint exactly what you can do to relieve yourself from it.

Starting on Stress Management

Now that you know the effects that stress can do to you, getting started on a stress management method is necessary. Managing your stress helps you regain control over your life, instead of being consumed by the amount of stress you had to deal with. Here’s how you can get started:

• Determine what causes stress in your life.
• Think of ways that you can reduce that stress.
• Formulate your stress management technique for relieving stress.

Steps on Stress Management

One thing you need to keep in mind is that you cannot expect to totally get rid of stress. It is a process wherein your initial goal would be to reduce the amount of stress in your life until you eventually get rid of it.

The following ideas will help you establish a stress management method that could work for you:

• Improve your time management skills. Most of your stress in life are a result of your inability to squeeze in your plans within the time available to you. So, creating your schedule will enable you to achieve more in less time. When creating your schedule, put the most important items on top of your list.
• Study the way you react with stress. This requires your honesty to determine whether your own coping mechanisms are effective or not. If not, then look for other means.
• Take care of your body. This is often the most neglected aspect of stress management. Get enough rest and eat well. Your health is the most vital factor in stress management.
• Change your mindset. Oftentimes, stress is produced only by your mind. So, if that is the case with you, then adopting a new perspective might reduce your stress levels.

Benefits of Stress Management

If you cannot fully understand the importance of stress management, then try thinking in reverse. Imagine yourself not suffering from the negative impacts of stress.

Without the negative results of stress in your life, then a person is able to enjoy a more satisfying and stress-free life.

In conclusion, here are the benefits that can be derived with practicing an efficient stress management method:

1. It improves your overall health status.
2. You are able to assume a more positive attitude and outlook in life.
3. It increases your productivity since you are able to focus clearly on your tasks.
4. You have better control over your emotions and how you respond to it.
5. And more importantly, you reduce or eliminate stress in your life.