What Is Stress?
What is stress?
Stress is difficult to define or measure. Some people thrive on a busy lifestyle and are able to cope well with life crises. Other people feel tensed or stressed by the slightest deviation from their set daily routine. Many people fall somewhere in between, but may have periods when levels of stress increase. Tell-tale signs of stress building up include:
• Not being able to sleep properly with worries going through your mind.
• Being impatient or irritable at minor problems.
• Not being able to concentrate due to many things going through your mind.
• Being unable to make decisions.
• Drinking or smoking more.
• Not enjoying food so much.
• Being unable to relax, and always feeling that something needs to be done.
• Feeling tense. Sometimes this includes a 'knot' in the stomach, or feeling sweaty with a dry mouth or a thumping heart.
Sometimes stress builds up quickly. For example, the unexpected traffic jam. Sometimes it is ongoing. For example, a difficult job.
Is stress harmful? Stress may also contribute to other physical illnesses in ways little understood. For example, it is thought that irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis, migraine, tension headaches, and other conditions are made worse by an increased level of stress. Your work performance, and relationships, may also be affected by stress.
How can I avoid stress? The following is a list of suggestions that may be useful to try and combat stress, some more appropriate to some people than others.
Stress list
You can try making a 'stress list'. Try keeping a diary over a few weeks or so, and list the times, places, and people that aggravate your stress levels.
Try practising these simple techniques when you are relaxed, and then use them routinely when you come across any stressful situation.
Positive relaxation
Don't just let relaxation happen, or not happen, at the mercy of work, family, etc. Plan it, and look forward to it. Different people prefer different things....
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