Stress

Any information or advice you happen to see on this site is not professional. Only a professional should make the diagnosis concerning any mental health issue. Always follow professional advice.

Did you know that stress can cause you to have colds? It can, in fact 70% of all visits to the doctor are caused by stress.

Definition of stress found in the Third Edition of The American Heritage College Dictionary is-- a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and usually characterized by incresased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.

If you feel a threat, whether real or imagined, the response is immediate.

Some stress is good when it helps us perform better, and some stress is bad when it causes us to be upset or ill.

You can come under stress and react when someone runs a red light and rams your car, but the same reaction is not the right reaction if your boss yells at you at work.

Our bodies possess many innate responses to different forms of stimulation. During caveman days our bodies were able to go from placid to fight-or-flight instantly. The adrenaline in the body would increase, heartbeat increases, which increases the blood flow to muscles, so we can fight or run away. We have all felt this sensation. When someone threatens you, you tense up, the blood rises, your face flushes, and the stomach tightens. I feel it on both sides of my neck as the blood rushes to my brain.

When you are under stress, you react in different ways-mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral.

Mentally: You have a decrease in memory and concentration, your mind races with thoughts, going every direction or totally blank, and you can become confused.

Physical: You feel tired, generally have a headache, muscle cramps, stiffness, or jerking, possible chest pains, nausea, trembling, sweating, and more frequent colds.

Emotional: nervous, angry, depressed, frustrated, worry over non-important things, you are forgetful, irritated, easily distracted, and impatient.

Behavioral: You cross your legs, and swing your foot, you walk the floor, you can't sit down for any length of time. You eat and smoke more. You scream, curse, cry, without a prompt.

There are many causes of stress. Work, family problems, marriage, money, kids, other kids at school, exams, love problems, just to name a few. See if this scenario fits you, or at least parts of it. You get up in the morning feeling a little groggy. You drink 3 or 4 cups of coffee "just to clear the head," and get you going. You work briskly the entire day. When you get home your spouse unloads their day on you before and during supper. The kids are active and it's hard to concentrate and think. You are still too tense to go to bed, so you have a couple of drinks or even smoke a joint, "just to relax." Finally bedtime comes and you collapse into bed thinking about tomorrow. Next morning the cycle repeats itself.

What can you do to break out of this rut and make life more enjoyable for you, your family, co-workers, and friends? You can make a few changes in your lifestyle. I know after reading this, some of you will say, "That is a fairy tale," but try it before you buy it. Stop the coffee. If you must have that morning cup, drink only one. Try to pace your work throughout the day instead of running full force all day long. Try to find a place at home and arrange a schedule where you can take time to relax before supper. Read the newspaper or a book, do not watch TV. After supper, take a quiet strolling walk with your spouse or friend. Do not drink before going to bed. Make a commitment and try this for three consecutive weeks. If you do not feel better about yourself and your life, then you should consider finding a doctor for professional guidance.