When you are stressed … your body undergoes a series of changes … most of which are associated with the release of certain hormones. These chemicals … like epinephrine and cortisol … can dilate your pupils … increase your heart rate and blood pressure … and even improve your strength and endurance. Unfortunately … too much of a good thing is usually a bad thing … and when we experience too much stress every day … it can cause health problems.
Some of the symptoms and diseases that are associated with stress are … muscle aches … insomnia … headaches … high blood pressure … heart disease … immune system problems … and depression.
So … a question I often get is “How do I manage the stress in my life?” Well … first you have to figure out the source of the stress. Some sources are obvious such as … a death in the family … a new baby … or a serious illness. You may think that your job is stressful … but it could be the demands of family or friends that are impacting your work. Keeping an inventory or a stress journal may provide clues to the subtle causes of stress. Once you find the cause … what’s next? Well … there are many techniques for stress reduction.
First and foremost … is time management. Making a schedule and prioritizing your assignments can go a long way at reducing stress. Try to improve your coping skills and not take out frustrations on others. Next … get plenty of rest. As Randall can tell you … staying up too late can make for a very stressful morning. Other stress reducers are … exercise … finding a hobby or even volunteer work. And lastly … many people can reduce their stress by learning to say no.
So … if you are feeling stressed … don’t forget to follow some of these simple steps … your family and friends will be thankful and your health may depend on it.
Special thanks to WebMD as a source for this topic
