STRESS

Majority of us undergo stress in our daily life, whatever the sources may be internal or external it hampers the most of the functioning of our body. Many of us face multiple problems in our life every individual has to deal with different kinds of pressure laid down by society or family.  On the edge of dealing those pressures, we unintentionally frame a net and get caught in the same. We all experience both “good stress” and “bad stress”. Good stress is the stress which motivates us to work and feel energized. It also encourages us to deal with upcoming challenges. Bad stress takes place when our coping mechanisms are overwhelmed by the stress and we can’t give our best. The same course of action can affect kids and teens in very individual ways- one person may see roller coaster as a thrilling ride, wherein for another it as a major stress-or. When we believe that we do not have the potential to overcome challenges, our stress can become distressed for us. The only solution is to adapt, change, and find methods to turn the bad stress into a good one.

      Family’s expectation, fight with a sibling, financial issues create stress among most youngsters. Some of the issues are actually genuine and some are self-created. Youngsters of this generation need to reduce their expectations. Youngsters these days build up unreasonable expectations from their life. Many of the youngsters are pseudo they keep their self in a rosy world and when they are confronted with the actual situation, they are unable to handle it and thus it throws them into a stressful situation.

        While we study about stress, it is important for us to know what causes stress. Many different things can cause us stress, from physical to emotional. Identifying what causes stress is often the first step in learning.

     

How to better deal with your stress. Some of the common sources of stress are:

·         Survival Stress:  Most of us have heard the phrase “fight or flight”. This is a common response to danger in all people. When we are afraid that someone or something may hurt you physically, our body naturally reacts with a boost of energy so that we will able to survive the situation (fight) or escape it (flight). This is survival stress.

·         Environmental stress: When our body reacts to things like the crowd, noise or pressure from work and family, which causes stress is known as Environmental stress. Identifying these stress and learning to deal with it will help to lower your stress level.

·         Internal Stress: When people make themselves stress by thinking about things that worries them for no reason is Internal Stress. It is one of the most important kinds of stress. This usually happens when we worry a lot about things that we can’t control or put ourselves in situations we know will cause stress. People nowadays become addicted to the kinds of hurried and tense lifestyle that results in stress.

·         Fatigue and Overwork: This stress often happens when we work too much or do a hard job in school, office, or home. This usually happens due to lack in time management, or not taking time for rest and relaxation. Whenever you come across such a situation where you know you have to work a lot, always remember to take frequent breaks in between. Such stress is one of the hardest to avoid. Because we usually think it's out of our control. But proper planning and time management will help to lower this.

“When you feel like Quitting, think aboutWhy you started.”

    Stress can affect both our physical and mental health. People sometimes might feel tired, sick or even are unable to concentrate on work. Ignorance to such may make them suffer mental breakdowns.          

National Institute of Mental Health in their article relating stress, share 5 things that we must know. Here are the 5 things:

1. Stress affects everyone.

Everyone feels stressed from time to time. Some people may cope with stress more effectively or recover from stressful events more quickly than others. There are different types of stress—all of which carry physical and mental health risks. A stressor may be a one time or short term occurrence, or it can be an occurrence that keeps happening over a long period of time. Examples of stress include:

·          Routine stress related to the pressures of work, school, family and other daily responsibilities

·         Stress brought about by a sudden negative change, such as losing a job, divorce, or illness

·         Traumatic stress experienced in an event like a major accident, war, assault, or a natural disaster where people may be in danger of being seriously hurt or killed. People who experience traumatic stress often experience temporary symptoms of mental illness, but most recover naturally soon after.

2. Not all stress is bad.

Stress can motivate people to prepare or perform, like when they need to take a test or interview for a new job. Stress can even be life-saving in some situations. In response to danger, your body prepares to face a threat or flee to safety. In these situations, your pulse quickens, you breathe faster, your muscles tense, your brain uses more oxygen and increases activity—all functions aimed at survival.

3. Long-term stress can harm your health.

Health problems can occur if the stress response goes on for too long or becomes chronic, such as when the source of stress is constant, or if the response continues after the danger has subsided. With chronic stress, those same life-saving responses in your body can suppress immune, digestive, sleep, and reproductive systems, which may cause them to stop working normally.

Different people may feel stress in different ways. For example, some people experience mainly digestive symptoms, while others may have headaches, sleeplessness, sadness, anger or irritability. People under chronic stress are prone to more frequent and severe viral infections, such as the flu or common cold.

Routine stress may be the hardest type of stress to notice at first. Because the source of stress tends to be more constant than in cases of acute or traumatic stress, the body gets no clear signal to return to normal functioning. Over time, continued strain on your body from routine stress may contribute to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses, as well as mental disorders like depression and anxiety.

4. There are ways to manage stress

The effects of stress tend to build up over time. Taking practical steps to manage your stress can reduce or prevent these effects. The following are some tips that may help you to cope with stress:

·         Recognize the Signs of your body's response to stress, such as difficulty sleeping, increased alcohol and other substance use, being easily angered, feeling depressed, and having low energy.

·         Talk to Your Doctor or Health Care Provider. Get proper health care for existing or new health problems.

·         Get Regular Exercise. Just 30 minutes per day of walking can help boost your mood and reduce stress.

·         Try a Relaxing Activity. Explore stress coping programs, which may incorporate meditation, yoga, tai chi, or other gentle exercises. For some stress-related conditions, these approaches are used in addition to other forms of treatment. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy and relaxing activities.

·         Set Goals and Priorities. Decide what must get done and what can wait, and learn to say no to new tasks if they are putting you into overload. Note what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.

·         Stay Connected with people who can provide emotional and other support. To reduce stress, ask for help from friends, family, and community or religious organizations.

5. If you’re overwhelmed by stress, ask for help from a health professional.

You should seek help right away if you have suicidal thoughts, are overwhelmed, feel you cannot cope or are using drugs or alcohol to cope. Your doctor may be able to provide a recommendation.