Dealing with Stress
Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger whether it’s real or imagined, the body's defences kick into an automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response. This is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life, giving you extra strength to defend yourself or for example to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. Beyond a certain point however stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health resulting in anxiety, depression, low motivation, addiction, strained relationships, sexual difficulties, and an overall reduction in quality of life.
Symptoms
If you have been experiencing any of the following symptoms you could be suffering from stress:
- Constipation/diarrhoea/IBS,
- Breathlessness
- Feeling sick or dizzy
- Headaches
- Constant tiredness
- Fainting spells
- Chest pains
- Sleeping problems
- Excessive sweating
- Food cravings
- Muscle spasms
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Pins and needles
- Lack of appetite
- High blood pressure
- Memory Problems
Step approach to stress:
- If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms on a regular basis remember you could be stressed. It is important to visit your G.P. Twelve million adults see their GP with mental health problems each year, much of which is stress related.
- Long–term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems, always consult with a medical professional before commencing any form of therapy for stress.
- Consult a counsellor/psychotherapist. As well as exploring possible causes of stress counselling may help you to manage your stress by developing strategies to take control of your life and to learn to rest and relax more effectively.