I Am Stressed

“Your stress is not like mine; I guarantee that I can top yours.” Have any of my sister/friends said that in their head as someone is sharing with them an issue that causes them stress? Let’s see how many of my sister/friends can relate to a few of these issues that can cause stress: You are too many things to too many people; your teenager has loss their mind but they think you are the one that is crazy; someone places one more project on your desk that should have been completed yesterday; your mate does not understand your daily struggles and is not supportive; childcare; school; taking care of aging parents; not enough money and a host of other things. These are some of the issues that cause many people stress in their daily life. Oddly enough, these stressors may be affecting your health.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you may think illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the culprit. Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can give you a jump on managing them. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-symptoms/SR00008_D

Common effects of stress . . .

 

On your body:
• Headache
• Muscle tension or pain
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Change in sex drive
• Stomach upset
• Sleep problems

On your mood:
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation or focus
• Irritability or anger
• Sadness or depression

On your behavior:

• Overeating or undereating

• Angry outbursts

• Drug or alcohol abuse

• Tobacco use

• Social withdrawal

 

Source: American Psychological Association's "Stress in America" report, 2010

 

If you do have stress symptoms, taking steps to manage your stress can have numerous health benefits. Explore stress management strategies such as: physical activity, relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, or tai chi.

Sister/friends, youneed to get to a place where you are healthy (inside and outside). One or two of the stressors I mentioned will probably be constant in your life. However, it is important to identify methods to properly manage the stress and not allow it to take a toll on your body. Yes, it is easier said than done, but it is possible.

I will close with a quote from Terri Guillemets, “Give your stress wings and let it fly away.”

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