http://ping.fm/AEmeOLearn to recognise the signs before you end up in a crumpled heap!
Stress - it’s part of life isn’t it? Stress is good!
We subject ourselves to stress all the time, we need some stress, at work
and in our daily lives. Without pressure and stress we would simply get
nothing done, we wouldn’t achieve anything! Stress is a positive force
when it invigorates your life and enables you to realise your dreams. So,
the more, the better then?
Well, think about it for a moment and be careful what you wish for. Just
as we need oxygen in the air that we breathe to survive, pure oxygen will
kill us. So it is with stress, we need some, but at what point does stress
then becomes counter productive and a destructive force in our lives?
How do YOU perceive stress?
Do you need the “Buzz” of that last minute deadline?
Do you get a “Rush” from the responsibilities of a high-pressure situation?
Do you get a “High” by creating a situation that produces anger or fear?
Do you say to your workmates “I thrive on stress”?
Do you “live in fear” for your job?
Do you “Worry” constantly about your abilities at work?
Do you “Fear” competition at work?
Do you “Change” behind the wheel of your car?
Our physiological response to stress manifests itself in our bodies, by
producing stimulants and other stress hormones, which act as mood altering
devices, so we become much less conscious of pain, both physical and
mental. We can set ourselves a dangerous precedent here, if we choose to
ignore the signs that our bodies use to warn us that we are making
ourselves vunerable to breakdown. Ignore this advice at your peril!
A common symptom of stress is a person’s lack of respect for and enjoyment
of, eating. The stimulants and other stress hormones which makes us tired,
irritable and angry, totally disrupts our digestive function. We also tend
to make poor choices about eating when we’re stressed either through time
constraints or a desire to eat comfort food. According to your disposition
this will either cause a loss of appetite, depleting your body of
vitamins, minerals and nutrients, leading to weight loss and poor health,
or weight gain, through a diet of junk food eaten in a rush, leading to
digestive disorders and other weight-related problems. Poor nutrition will
further weaken your resistance to illness and allow other symptoms of
stress to develop. It’s a downward spiral.
Stress hormones are immensely powerful and have side effects that can
quite literally kill you. Stress becomes a bad thing when it reaches a
level beyond which you feel in control any longer, when you find yourself
feeling tense, tired and uncomfortable.
It’s not just the guy that seems most likely to drop dead from a stroke or
a heart attack that’s at risk here. Stress hormones can contribute to
ulcers and other severe gastro-intestinal problems, diabetes, high blood
pressure and heart disease. These chemicals are also causal factors in a
host of psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. It can also
weaken the immune system, which makes you more susceptible to illness and
affects the body’s ability to heal.
Ask yourself - am I stressed or am I in denial?
How much stress is too much stress?
Well, we’re all unique, and everyone experiences stress differently.
So how do we go about recognising the signs before it becomes a serious
problem?
First, check the following lists and be honest with yourself. If you start
to exhibit some of these symptoms, they may be warning signs that your
stress levels are becoming a cause for concern. Your body and your
emotions are attempting to give you a “wake-up” call. Listen to what your
body is telling you.
- Upset stomach
- Stomach pains
- Loss of appetite
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Nervous Tick or Blinking
- Insomnia
- Chronic fatigue
- Pain in the neck and shoulders and back
- Stiff neck and shoulders or back
- Teeth Grinding
- Poor focus and memory
How you feel can indicate signs of stress too, look for the following:
- Anxious
- Depressed
- Frustrated
- Hustled
- Overloaded
- Pressured
- Tense
- Worried
Identifying stress at the early stages makes it so much easier to treat.
Good habits can be adopted to ensure that you have a good work/life
balance and stress reduction becomes a manageable exercise.
Learn to recognise the signs that stress is starting to build up and be
prepared to act quickly on the problems causing this, because problems
seem to grow in intensity if they are not dealt with. The relief will be
instant and you’ll be glad that you did.
It’s important to realise that you always have choices and learning how to
properly manage stress will make you a happier person and really will
improve your life.
If we are honest with ourselves, we can recognise the signs that stress is
reaching an abnormal level, but of course it’s different for everyone. The
situation can become more serious when the sufferer is in denial of the
obvious, when stress levels can then reach intolerable levels before the
sufferer has a serious, sometimes catastrophic health crisis.
Stress can cause serious illness and even if it doesn't go on to do that;
it can make you thoroughly miserable in the meantime. This article isn't
supposed to scare, but to make you aware and to inspire you to take
preventative action before it’s too late.
Visit
http://ping.fm/D2azF to find out how
The Phil Parker Lightning Process can help you.
