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Published by Rachelle Disbennett-Lee
Thursday, December 13, 2001
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According to medical studies, stress has
been linked as a contributing factor in a myriad of diseases
including Heart Disease, Hypertension, Sudden Death, Depression,
Anxiety, Smoking, Obesity, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse,
Cancer, Arthritis, Gastrointestinal, Flu, and Colds. According
to Dr. Paul J. Rosch, President of the nonprofit American
Institute of Stress, "it's pretty hard to think of
any disease where stress does not play a role. There's no
question that the incidence and severity of flu's and colds
is directly related to stress levels."
When under stress our bodies release cortisol-related
hormones. These hormones cause blood pressure and heart
rate to increase. These hormones help the body prepare for
danger, enacting the flight or fight response. The body
suppresses the immune system to brace for an injury or attack.
This is a normal reaction to a threat. Unfortunately, stress
can cause this type of reaction to happen more frequently
causing destructive effects on the body. According to Dr.
Rosch, "stress for us is not running into a saber-toothed
tiger. It's a host of hassles that occur several times a
day, like getting stuck in traffic jams or having fights
with co-workers.
Some stress is good. It motivates us to
be productive. Too much stress, however, can stop us in
our tracks and cause the body to run down and get sick.
Some of the signs of stress according to the American Institute
of Stress are:
Forgetfulness
Excess worry
Insomnia
Poor Concentration
So what can we do? Since we cannot remove
stress altogether we need to develop healthy ways to handle
stress. Some suggestions from the institute are:
Learn to say no if you think the job or
activity will be stressful
Manage your time to allow for relaxation,
recreation and sleep
Seek strong social support systems
Stress happens, but we are not helpless
against it. The first thing to do is become aware of when
you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. When that happens,
step back and ask yourself what you can do at that very
moment to reduce the stress. It might be as easy as taking
some deep breaths or going for a walk. Whatever you need
to do. Managing stress is a commitment to living a high
quality life.
(Resources: Rocky Mountain News Spotlight
November 13, 2001 article Worst comes to Worst by Debra
Melani. American Institute of Stress http://www.stress.org)
Coaching
Stress can be deadly. The good news is there
are things we can do to control it and relieve it. Building
in daily stress reducing activities is a great way to decrease
the stress and increase the joy in your life.
Things I do in my life to manage stress
are plan time to relax, spend time with friends, and walk
my dogs. Taking breaks provides an opportunity to refresh
and rejuvenate and to return to my task more alert and able
to perform.
What can you do today to reduce the stress
in your life?
Daily Success Formula
Breaks + Relaxing + Being
Aware = Stress Reducers
Quotes
"Adopting the right attitude can convert
a negative stress into a positive one." Hans Selye
"Every stress leaves an indelible scar,
and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful
situation by becoming a little older." Hans Selye
"I made some studies, and reality is the
leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it. I
can take it in small doses, but as a lifestyle, I found it
too confining." Jane Wagner |
