You’re Stressing Me Out!

From a biological point of view, stress is an organism’s response to changes in its environment. It’s a method of reaction to actual or perceived challenges. The sympathetic nervous system creates a fight or flight response that can lead to a negative thought process and a negative influence on an your physical health.

Small amounts of stress can play a very positive role in keeping your motivated and help you meet the challenges posed by any changes in your environment. However, excessive stress may cause depression, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, ulcers, cancerous growths and other physical and mental complications.

It’s Not The Same For Everyone

Stress is something that varies from person to person. What causes you to stress out may actually have no effect on others. For example, some people are easily able to face the challenges of being a police officer and actually thrive on high stress situations while others would feel overwhelmed with the thought of what a Sheriff considers “routine activities of the job”.

Look For The Signs Of Stress

You may be under stress and not know it. Our bodies are not designed to sustain chronic stress. Do an assessment of every aspect of your life, including your emotions, behavior, thought process and physical health. Symptoms may differ according to time, duration, stress level and emotional maturity, but no part of your body is immune from the disastrous consequences of chronic stress.

Chronic Stress Can Lead To:

• Anxiety, depression, personality disorders and other mental problems.
• High blood pressure, heart attacks, abnormal heart beats, heart diseases, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.
• Eating disorders and obesity.
• A weak immune system.
• Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and loss of sexual interest in men and women.
• Acne outbreaks, eczema, psoriasis and other skin problems.
• Menstrual problems and hormonal imbalance.
• Temporary or permanent hair loss.
• Irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, gastritis, GERD and other gastrointestinal problems.

We Are Stressing Ourselves Out!

Stress is part of our environment. The fast pace of modern lifestyle and increasingly toxic environment have significantly contributed to stress levels of mankind.

Modern technologies and entertainment can add to our stress level rather than relieving us from pressure. Violent, fast paced and panic based video games, TV shows and movies are more popular than ever…so are attention deficit disorder and anxiety patients. Is there a connection? Unplug yourself and your family a few nights a week and judge for yourself.

The Drs. Wolfson Say: “When your body is telling you something, ignoring the signs is not a good idea. You can often manage your stress levels by identifying the root cause”.

• Think about the factors that cause you to stress out and see if they can be handled in a better way.
• Learn the skills of time management. Generally, people are stressed out at work when they face deadlines. Try to prioritize your work schedule and avoid procrastinating on tasks.
• Seek out more efficient methods. Learning new techniques or skills can really cut down your work load.
• Learn to take care of yourself. Devote time everyday to something that brings you joy.
• Learn to control your thought process. When you feel worried, try to stop your negative thought process. Note the factors on a piece of paper and strike out those which are beyond your control. Learn to adjust and accept things you cannot control or change.
• Share your emotions with your friends and family. Speaking up may help you relieve your stress level. Assertive communication can help you relieve your negative thoughts and allow you to manage your stress levels. Speak your mind with respect and candor.
• Eat healthy and nutritious organic paleo food. Include fermented food in your diet. Recent studies have proven that probiotics play a very important role in your psychological health.
• Exercise regularly and choose an activity that you love. Physical activity is great for handling your stress level. *Studies have proven that Yoga is a powerful stress buster and can help restore the balance of your body and mind.
• If you are suffering from depression or other chronic stress symptoms, its important to contact your healthcare practitioner. In some cases, counseling can be extremely helpful in finding tools and techniques to avoid, cope with or eliminate long term or temporary stressors in your life.