What is Stress?
Stress happens to everyone at some point in their life. Stress is basically the body’s normal physical response to events that make you feel worried or in danger. Your body responds with a fight-or-flight scenario defense system automatically. Stress is a good thing in immediate situations because it keeps you focused, alert, and energetic. This extra strength can allow you to do things you may not think you are even capable of doing. But after a certain point, stress becomes debilitating and can cause problems with mood, productivity, and relationships.
3 Ways your Body Responds to Stress
1.) Social engagement is the normal, controlled level stress that occurs when you are in social settings. If you are asking for forgiveness or clearing up a misunderstanding this type of stress is masked by others and your breathing and heart rate may increase, but most people in your immediate vicinity will not be aware.
2.) Mobilization is the body’s term for fight or flight response which is the other way your body might respond to stress. This type of stress causes you to react when not in a social setting and take action. Your heart beats faster, muscles tighten, and breathing becomes shallower. After danger has passed, the body will then relax and will go back to normal balance.
3.) The last response is called immobilization, which is where the body is so scared that it freezes. This type of trauma does not allow the body to react in any way. The body may even shut down and become unconscious due to this level of stress in order to protect it.
Symptoms of Stress
Symptoms of stress include memory issues, anxiety, poor judgement, diarrhea, nausea, loss of sex drive, moodiness, irritability, sleep issues, eating issues, and substance abuse problems. Stress can take over your entire life and not allow you to relax. The longer the stress remains the more damage it can cause over time.
Causes of Stress
Stress can be caused by many different things, but the majority of external stress is caused by large life event changes such as job problems, marital problems, family relationship issues, and financial problems. Internal stress can be magnified by worrying, negativism, perfectionism, rigidity, and an all-or-nothing attitude.
How to Manage Stress
Sometimes life throws you stress balls and you have got to figure out how to deal with this stress. Exercise is a great way to get your nervous system back into shape and to improve overall health. Engaging socially is another way to get release hormones and reduce stress, go out and laugh a little. Opening up about your stress can put you in control of it and the release to others is liberating.
Setting aside relaxation time is also a great way to de-stress. Eating healthy can also be a great way to reduce stress on the body and make you feel energized. And of course get plenty of sleep to de-stress.
Stress can wreak havoc on the human body and should be minimized whenever possible. Sometimes you can run into more than you can handle, but using the tips above can help you manage your stress and live a lower stress lifestyle.
For more information on natural remedies for stress, please click here: Natural Stress Remedies