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Stress: You Can Beat ItStress can affect your life more than you could imagine. It can cause sleep loss and over sleeping and weight loss as well as overeating. But stress doesn’t have to get the best of you. Stress management is about learning to identify your stressors and either eliminate them or figure out how to work around them. How does stress work? There are three phases of stress: Phase I: A stressor triggers your body to respond to stress. The stressor can be an event (such as a car accident or argument) or a memory and does not always have to be negative. Positive stressors, such as getting married or starting a new job, can also trigger a response. Phase II: Your interpretation of the stressor. You may perceive something as a threat when it really isn’t. Your beliefs and attitude about a situation can contribute to stress. Phase III: In this final phase, your body reacts to the stressor(s). Examples are:
In most cases, these responses will worsen already existing health problems. Experts have identified three kinds of stress: Acute Stress This is the most common form. Two key words that relate to acute stress are demands and pressures. These either come from current or past demands and pressures in your life. It is important not to lose focus on realistic outcomes for these demands and pressures. For example, if you are able to perform well on a ski slope in the early morning, you may not achieve the same performance later in the day. You are not a machine – your body will react if it is taxed with too much stress! Acute stress is usually short-term and the symptoms that accompany it don’t usually cause damage to your body. Symptoms of acute stress include:
Episodic Acute Stress People who have this type of stress generally suffer with acute stress periodically. If you have episodic acute stress, you are always late for appointments or in a rush. You try to do too many tasks, usually more than you can handle and are often disorganized. People described as having "a lot of nervous energy" typically have episodic acute stress. Cardiologists and other health care professionals may classify them as "Type A" personalities. Some may call them "worry warts." Chronic Stress This type of stress wears down your body. It is an almost constant state of stress experienced by those who are overworked or over extended or who feel trapped and helpless. It takes a toll on your body every moment, every day, year after year. Unfortunately, many people under chronic stress don’t heed the warning signals their bodies may be sending them (migraines, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, etc.). These signs are often ignored because people with chronic stress get used to the feelings and after a while it feels normal. Negative health outcomes that accompany chronic stress include:
Chronic stress can be treated with long-term medical care and behavioral cognitive therapy. But you have to recognize you’re under stress and take steps to remove the stressors in your life. Make changes in your life Coping tips include don’t bite off more than you can chew! If your job is stressful, try speaking to your supervisor to see what can be done to help. If your home creates stress for you, speak to all family members and seek more cooperation. At school, speak to the teacher or professor if you feel you are behind in your studies and can’t keep up. Tutoring may be helpful as well as taking fewer classes and being more realistic about how many credits you can handle. Remember, take it easy, relax and enjoy life. Chronic stress is not a normal part of life, so don’t make it a part of yours!
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