What is Stress?
If you were to ask ten people what stress is, you’d probably get ten different answers! Stress is different to different people… What causes “stress” for one person, may not cause stress for another person. And, of course, everyone reacts differently to stress.
The word “stress”, as it is used these days was coined by Hans Selye in 1936. Selye defined it as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change”. Selye was a scientist who subjected laboratory animals to annoying physical and emotional experiences – such as bright light, deafening noise and extreme cold. His experiments showed that the animals all suffered from similar problems after being subjected to the annoying experiences. They developed stomach ulcers, their adrenal glands became enlarged and their lymphoid tissue shrunk.
In later experiments, he showed that persistent stress could cause these animals to develop many diseases similar to those seen in humans, including heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and even arthritis.
Years ago, most “stress” was caused by physical threats – finding shelter, finding food and fending off enemies. Today, stress tends to be caused primarily from psychological rather than physical threats. Stress can cause our bodies to go haywire. It is associated with many reactions over which we have no control that were originally designed to be beneficial such as:
- Causing heart rate and blood pressure soar to increase the flow of blood to the brain to improve decision making,
- Making blood sugar rise to give more fuel for energy as the result of the breakdown of glycogen, fat and protein stores,
- Shunt blood away from the gut, where it is not immediately needed for purposes of digestion, to the large muscles of the arms and legs to provide more strength in combat, or greater speed in getting away from a scene of potential peril,
- Making clotting occur more quickly to prevent blood loss from lacerations or internal hemorrhage.
In battle mode, these things would all be very important. But when you’re worrying about paying your bills, these instincts are much less important and cause undue wear and tear on your body.
Today, stress affects nearly everyone in the United States in one way or another. The most common cause for stress these days is probably work. In fact, a Gallup Poll commissioned in 2000 found that 80% of workers felt stress on the job!
Time magazine has called stress the #1 health problem in America. However, knowing what stress is, what causes it and how to handle it can make a huge difference!
So, back to what the definition of stress is… If I ask you what stress is, what comes to mind?
I’ll bet that your answers were about negative things. Am I right?
Was anything on your list about something positive? For example, starting a new job can be stressful. And, believe it or not, so can winning the lottery.
What does stress do to your life?
Stress Relief Tips – Part Two
Stress takes a toll on us -- here is the second part of our series of stress relief tips!
Fix the source of the stress!
Deal with your anger. If your stress is caused by anger, find a non-destructive way of dealing with it. Don’t let it boil under the surface – deal with it now. Talk to – or write a letter to – the person who caused the anger. Sometimes writing a letter can be relaxing in itself, even if you never send it.
Set boundaries. Is your stress caused by trying to do too much for too many people? Learn to set boundaries – understand that you don’t have to do so much…that you need to have time for yourself! Draw a line in the sand and stick to it!
Change things. Did you lose a job? Are you in a bad relationship? Find a way to change your situation – stop stewing over it, stop worrying about it – find a way to do something about it. Did you realize that Bill Gates founded Microsoft during a recession? And he’s not the only one who’s done something amazing when times were tough. Put your mind to it and we bet you’ll be able to do something amazing too.
Consider Yoga or a Spiritual Approach
Another great way to relax and prepare for sleep is to practice yoga or something similar. When many of us think of Yoga, we picture a guru and strange ritual. But it’s not that complicated and it’s great for health, well-being and yes, even beauty!
Here are a few reasons to consider Yoga:
- Yoga helps increase your flexibility while stretching ligaments & tendons, lubricating joints and toning muscles!
- Some of the Yoga positions (particularly the Forward Bends) can help you shrink your tummy!
- Yoga helps restore elasticity of the spine and improve your posture.
- Almost all Yoga postures help to massage internal glands and organs, which helps keep the body’s systems functioning properly. This includes the endocrine system, the digestive system and the cardiovascular system!
- Regular meditation after your yoga session can help to calm your mind, decreasing anxiety and leaving you in a better mood.
- Yoga’s breathing exercises will help expand your lung capacity.
Reduce Stress and Look Younger
Stress can really take a toll on you both mentally AND physically! If you feel stressed out, you probably look stressed out...and no one wants to look stressed out! Staying stressed out for too long can lead to long term ailments including premature aging! Here are some tips to help reduce stress so that you look more relaxed and comfortable!
The key to reducing stress is to prevent it. Getting enough sleep, eating right, avoiding excess caffeine and other stimulants and taking time out to relax might help you prevent the majority of it! Of course, there are times you won’t be able to avoid stress – bad things happen and they can’t all be avoided. When something happens that’s out of your control, remember that it’s out of your control and try to deal with it as best you can.
Did you know that many stress relievers work because of the power of the placebo effect that comes from having faith in the procedure or the therapist? Other unique approaches can achieve the same results because they reduce feelings of helplessness and provide a sense of control over the problem.
Just as stress is different for each of us there is no stress reduction strategy that is a cure all for everyone!
Jogging and other aerobic exercises, different types of meditation, prayer and yoga are great for many people but might be boring or stressful to others. Of course, there is no shortage of stress relievers and in addition to the above, various progressive muscular relaxation exercises, autogenic training, deep breathing, massage therapies, visual imagery and self hypnosis practices are popular.
There are also acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback, and other similar techniques. Some people find that listening to music, hobbies, volunteer work, keeping a daily journal of events and how they feel, laughter, playing with pets, taking short breaks or shopping help them to relax. Others find relief for their stress related symptoms from aromatherapy, nutritional supplements or other unique methods.
If you’re really struggling with your stress, talk to your doctor or therapist.
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