| Stress can be an insidious disease that robs | | | | before it becomes so severe that it takes a |
| you of peace, and even good health. Stress is | | | | physical toll on your body. Watch for these |
| meant as a response mechanism to help your | | | | signs of stress overload and learn to deal |
| body recognize danger and muster the courage | | | | with them before it's too late: |
| to try something new. It's what helps your | | | | |
| body focus, face tough situations, and gives | | | | -Emotional Upheaval, such as mood swings, |
| you strength, heightened alertness to danger | | | | anxiety, difficulty falling or staying |
| and even stamina when you need it most. | | | | asleep, sadness, anger, trouble |
| | | | concentrating, excess worry and overwhelming |
| When the human body is provoked by stressors, | | | | feelings of not being good enough or sadness |
| (anything from a simple argument with a | | | | are all signs that stress is taking its toll |
| co-worker, to waiting in line at the grocery | | | | on your body! |
| store, to something as serious as being | | | | |
| involved in a car crash, or even mugged), it | | | | -Physical Signs such as tiredness, sweaty |
| responds by activating the nervous system. | | | | palms, throbbing headaches, trouble eating |
| The hypothalamus then tells the adrenal | | | | (stomach upset), or overeating, as well as |
| glands to release more adrenaline into the | | | | muscle tightness can all be a sign of stress |
| bloodstream. | | | | overload. |
| | | | |
| These hormones are what cause the heart to | | | | -Behavior Changes, such as overreacting, |
| race, palms to sweat and blood pressure to | | | | acting on impulse, using alcohol or drugs, |
| rise. Pupils in the eyes suddenly dilate to | | | | withdrawing from relationships and changing |
| improve vision. Blood vessels throughout the | | | | jobs often can also signal trouble. |
| body widen to allow more blood to flow to | | | | |
| important organs. The liver even releases | | | | Once the signs of overload are recognized, |
| glucose to give the body a sudden energy | | | | it's important to deal with them right away. |
| boost. This natural stress response can be | | | | Most stress experts agree that once stress |
| very beneficial, helping to prepare a person | | | | overload has manifested itself into physical, |
| to act quickly, and more effectively handle | | | | emotional and behavioral ways, it may be |
| the situation at hand. | | | | necessary to seek professional help. In the |
| | | | meantime, here are a few simple things anyone |
| When Stress Goes Bad. | | | | can try to help alleviate some of the |
| | | | stressors in their lives: |
| This stress response is necessary in an | | | | |
| emergency, but when normal everyday stressors | | | | Learn to Relax. |
| build over time, with little or no relief, | | | | |
| this normal (and healthy) stress response can | | | | Easier said than done, but learning how to |
| turn on the human body, causing a multitude | | | | relax can help most people alleviate much of |
| of physical ailments. When the nervous system | | | | the stress in their lives. Learn yoga or deep |
| remains "on," do to continuous stress, the | | | | breathing exercises. Take time to go for a |
| body can begin to wear down, leaving the | | | | walk, read a book or do something that you |
| person feeling overwhelmed, and the immune | | | | really enjoy. Take time alone every day to |
| system overworked. Most people have | | | | just sit peacefully. |
| experienced the physical signs of stress from | | | | |
| time to time including: stomach pains; | | | | Stay Healthy. |
| chronic diarrhea; fatigue; headaches; | | | | |
| insomnia; shortness of breath; weight loss | | | | Eat right. Exercise. Sleep at least 6-8 hours |
| (or gain); and even shortness of breathe. | | | | every night. Get help from your doctor when |
| But, many fail to realize that severe stress | | | | the stress becomes too much to handle alone. |
| overload can also lead to much more serious | | | | A healthy body is better equipped to handle |
| ailments such as: high blood pressure; angina | | | | daily stressors. |
| (chest pains); Type 2 diabetes; increased | | | | |
| asthma attacks; and even heart attack and | | | | Avoid Over Scheduling. |
| stroke! Too much stress can be very bad for | | | | |
| the human body. | | | | Today's hectic lifestyle, both a home and at |
| | | | work, is a leading cause of stress in modern |
| Signs of Stress Overload. | | | | society. Stop trying to fill every minute of |
| | | | every day with activities and projects. Take |
| Stress is an epidemic these days, with nearly | | | | time to simply rest. Do nothing for an entire |
| 80 percent of the American population | | | | weekend. Help your body and mind rejuvenate |
| reporting feelings of extreme stress at work | | | | itself, by giving it plenty of peaceful |
| every ingle day, not to mention home and | | | | moments. |
| family stressors, it's no wonder doctor's | | | | |
| offices are packed with patients exhibiting | | | | Stress was designed to help our body, not |
| anxiety and stress-related symptoms. Stress | | | | hinder it. Unfortunately, our inability to |
| overload is becoming more and more serious, | | | | handle the ongoing stressors of modern life |
| as modern society continues to cram more into | | | | has created an epidemic of overworked and |
| their schedules, achieve more at work, and | | | | overstressed people who must learn how to |
| fail to recognize the symptoms of overload. | | | | better deal with their stress in order to |
| Physicians recommend heading stress off | | | | have a happier, and healthier life. |