By Heather McCauley
There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t hear someone utter the words, “I’m so stressed” (myself included in that mix). This is probably because stress is one of the most prevalent and identifiable maladies affecting people – with the most personal of symptoms. Stress manifests differently in different people and is, therefore, often difficult to define from a medical perspective. People just intuitively know that their headache or cranky mood happens to be stress-related.
Sometimes the source of our stress is easily identified; deadlines at work, pressures at home or financial struggles. At other times, the source can elude us. We may be creating stress with negative thought patterns which cause negative physical and emotional reactions (i.e. stress) and not even be aware of the effect our thoughts have on our well-being.
It is important to note that stress is a physical reaction - initially. The body was designed for instances of “fight or flight”, releasing adrenaline when we encounter danger or fear. When we enter prolonged or chronic stress, the continuous flow of adrenaline may manifest physical as well as emotional symptoms; rapid heartbeat, aches and pains, irritability and reduced cognitive functions like memory and critical thinking.
People cope with stress in a number of ways, some of which are healthy and some that are not. Negative coping mechanisms include self-medicating with drugs, alcohol or cigarettes, over- or under-eating, sleeping too much or staying overly busy so as to avoid dealing with the stressor. A negative coping mechanism can be better than no coping mechanism at all because it can be replaced with any number of positive coping mechanisms. Exercise including Yoga and Tai Chi, socializing, massage, volunteering, laughing, conscious breathing, mindful meditation and even herbal tea are all healthy ways to combat stress. The important thing to note is that each of us has the power to tame our body’s reaction to stress.
There are as many stress triggers as there are symptoms – as there are coping mechanisms. The key is to identify the source(s) of your stress and acknowledge your response to it. Once identified, you can take steps to avoid or alter the source (if possible), adapt to or accept the situation, or employ a positive coping mechanism that works. In my opinion, a healthy lifestyle, an attitude of gratitude and open, respectful communication go a long way in keeping stress at bay.
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