It appears that stress is generally on the rise. It is especially affecting the more vulnerable. It may be affecting you.
What is Stress?
When you experience changes or challenges, that is a stressor. Your body reacts with a physical responses. That’s stress. It is normal. It happens to everyone.
Stressing out itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Our bodies are made to experience stresses and then to react or respond. It can help you meet daily challenges and motivate you to reach your goals. It can boost memory and it is also a vital warning system producing fight or flight.
Positive vs Negative Stress
Positive stress is when you respond well to a challenge; first day at a new job, first date, speaking to a group, wedding day, doing something for the first time. Handling these challenges is positive stress.
Stress becomes negative when stressors continue without relief or grow to nearly unmanageable levels with no relaxation.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of being stressed. From mild, like sweaty palms, butterfly’s, or headache to the more profound dizziness, high blood pressure, digestive issues, lack of sleep, even chest pains. These hierarchal responses are some of the indicators of problem or chronic stress.
Other physical symptoms to watch for include anxiety, forgetfulness, depression, fatigue or being overwhelmed easily. A change in behavior like frequent anger, change of eating habits or increased drug or alcohol abuse are the most common emotional and behavioral symptoms.
When to Get Help
Recognizing when you are stressed can help you head off a more serious problem. If something doesn’t feel right for more than a week or two, you might want to see a doctor. If the feeling continues unchecked, it becomes chronic. It can put you at risk for serious health problems like heartburn, severe headaches, jaw pain, heart disease, muscle pain, skin rashes, weight gain.
Stress, Worry and Anxiety
Lastly it is important to know that these three feelings are not the same. Understanding the difference can help you know how to deal with them. Worry is a metal response in your head (e.g., what if a bad thing happens?) Stress causes a physical response (e.g, a fast heart beat.) Anxiety has both a physical and an emotional reaction plus an emotional response (fear or dread.)
When have you experienced stress (positive or negative)? Worry? Anxiety? Have you seen these feelings affect others?
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