What Stresses You?

The term stress was originally an engineering term that dealt with a structure’s ability to provide support. A structure was evaluated to see how much stress it could endure before becoming unstable and eventually collapsing.

In this way, engineers could be certain of safe operating parameters. You’ve most likely seen signs in elevators that say how much weight it can tolerate. The system of cables and pulleys has been stress tested, and the safe operating parameters are posted for the safety of those who ride the elevator.

The same basic principle applies to stress in people, but of course the manifestations and symptoms of stress are much more complex. We are all designed to deal with some stress; however, stress goes by many different names: tension, apprehension, anxiety, etc. Whatever you call it, it’s a hard-wired response that has been with us since our ancestors lived in caves.

Medically, stress is the presence of either emotional or physical tension. Each of us has a different set of triggers for emotional stress. Meeting a deadline at work may trigger tension in one person; speaking before a group of people may trigger an emotional response in another.

Even though stress is many times an emotional response, it produces very real physical symptoms in your body. Your body responds to the situation as if it were in danger. Your heart rate speeds up and you breathe faster. This gives your body a burst of energy known in medical circles as the fight-or-flight syndrome. Other symptoms that your body is responding to stress include increased sweating and a sudden rush of strength. Lesser symptoms include dilated pupils and a slowed digestive system.

There are many other ways stress can manifest itself–hypertension, migraine headaches, chronic illnesses like diarrhea, nervous ticks, panic attacks, eating disorders–the list is endless. If your body is exposed to stress too often, or for too long of a period, it can be very damaging. Prolonged exposure to stressful situations cannot only cause like chronic stomach upset and back pain-–it can kill you.

Longer lasting effects on your body include a weakened immune system which makes it more difficult to fight off a viruses and bacteria. Do you seem to catch everything? If you already suffer from a health condition, additional stress can worsen it.

Emotionally speaking, stress can also have detrimental affects. If you’re under a great deal of tension, you may also find that you’re moodier than usual – with the smallest of problems setting you off – more tense than usual and you may even experience depression.

There is good news. Stress is manageable. First, you need to identify exactly what it is that’s causing the stress in your life. Are there work-related or school-related activities that are triggering your anxiety, financial problems at home, or are you distressed about a personal problem or a relationship?

If you can’t change the situation, then you’ll have to discover more effective ways to cope with it. You will want to look at some stress management techniques. The medical establishment now recognizes several methods for dealing with anxiety which include meditation and yoga.

Keep in mind that stress management has no one-size-fits-all cure. What works for your neighbor may be ineffective for you. You may need to try out several solutions until you find one that helps. Just keep searching for a solution that suits your needs–you’ll find one.