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- GOT STRESS?
- By: STEVEN SCHEELER
Stress. It's a part of life, and it's not going away. We can't get rid of all stress, nor should we. There is positive stress-like excitement when receiving good news, or energy that pushes us to perform well-and there is negative stress. When we learn to harness the power of positive stress and manage the effects of negative stress, our overall health and well-being will improve in amazing ways. There are four basic types of stress: Eustress, a positive stress, is a natural physical reaction that increases blood flow to your muscles and results in a higher heart rate. For example, an athlete getting ready to compete in an event would experience eustress, which would assist her in performing at her highest level. Distress, we know, is a negative form of stress. There are two types of distress-acute and chronic. Acute stress occurs in a crisis and is short-term. Chronic stress goes on and on and on, becoming a way of life for many people. Chronic stress can contribute to many diseases of the body. Hyperstress, is also a negative stress. This type of stress happens when you can't t cope with the on-going pressures and demands of your life. An example would be a highly stressful job with long working hours or caring for an ill parent or child. One sign that you're experiencing this type of stress is sudden emotional breakdowns that seem to happen over something small-it's that one final thing that was just too much. This type of stress can lead to serious physical and emotional problems when not managed properly. Hypostress, actually occurs when there is not enough stress in your life. Some stress is good and necessary for you to feel alive and excited about life. If you feel bored and unmotivated in your daily life, you can experience the same physical reactions as the other negative types of stress. All negative stress causes the body to release cortisol in large quantities which, among other things, causes an imbalance in our hormones. So, you end up with not only the initial stressors, but also the effects of too much cortisol in your system. Ever wonder why you feel so bad when you're stressed? Here's why. When stressed, your body quickly responds by increasing the stress hormones-adrenaline and cortisol. Progesterone levels fall as it is continuously used to make more cortisol. Blood flow decreases to kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skin causing everything from toxin buildup and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) to accelerated aging of the cells. While progesterone levels and blood flow fall, blood sugar, cholesterol, fatty acids, heart rate and blood pressure rise. In addition, the immunity system is suppressed. No wonder you don't feel so good! If these physical stress-responses are not used for either "fight or flight", they become residue (leftovers), blocking the normal function of our bodies.What causes stress? In order to prevent stress you need to identify the cause of the stress. Sometimes you know exactly what is causing your stress--a deadline at work, a pile of unpaid bills, or a relationship that's not working out. Sometimes it's more difficult to find the source of your problem. What often happens is that many relatively mild stressors occur at the same time. These can bring on the same stress as a larger problem. Some people experience stress from events that occurred in the past (post-traumatic stress disorder). See any of these stressors in your life? Change of any kind Emotional insecurities Pressures (self-induced and external) Quantitative (too much) work Qualitative (too hard) work Conflicts (work, social, family) Frustrations Competition (work, social, family) Pollution (noise, air) Sense of helplessness We all experience some of these stressors. But if stress is reducing your quality of life, it may be time to make some changes. Natural treatment of Stress Once you identify the source of your stress, you must take action-either removing yourself from it or addressing the situation. Even if you cannot get away entirely from the stressor, try to step away for a few seconds or minutes. -physically remove yourself - walk away -mentally remove yourself - take a time out -breathe and use stress management techniques Taking this break is important since it allows you a moment to relax and formulate a plan for dealing with the problem at hand. Having a plan alone can be a great stress reliever and give you positive steps you can take in finding a permanent solution. If you are can't identity the source of your stress, you may need to seek help from family, friends, or a spiritual adviser. If you don't find assistance and relief and continue to be chronically stressed, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a mental health counselor to help determine the source of the stress. Natural treatments
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