Stress:
Anxiety and Stress II
Definition of Stress
II
Stress Article II
Emotional Stress
II More Stress II
Teen Stress
Definition of Stress.
What is the definition of stress and why do I
have it?
By Coty D. Miranda
Stress by any other name would still suck.
You know stress by the tenseness in your muscles, the pounding
headache, the sweaty palms and clinched teeth.
We all have it sometime. It may be a sudden occurrence: a death, a
job loss, an accident. It may be ongoing: the boss who never stops
criticizing, a relative you are convinced thinks making your life
miserable is their main earthly task, or perhaps your life feels
overwhelmed by things and tasks.
So, how do we eliminate stress from our lives? Bad news,
earthlings, short of living alone on a mountaintop, it isn’t going
to happen. (And even then, when the cold wind blows and you’re
wearing only a simple caftan, that will bring along its own
stress.)
But we can take steps to manage stress in our lives and come as
close as possible to doing our best to managing it. And that
should be our goal.
First, what is the definition stress? Let’s start defining it by
looking at some of the synonyms for stress: strain, pressure,
tension, distress. Think of its definition when applied in
engineering or mechanical usages: a force or system of forces that
tends to produce deformation in a body; the resistance of a body
to external forces.
Definition of stress simplified: think earthquake.
When stress attacks our body and minds, we react. Some say stress
is often viewed as a fight or flight response; a remnant leftover
of our primal ancestors when the response to real or perceived
dangers (is it a charging wooly mammoth or do I only think its
heading towards me) meant either fleeing or fighting.
Whatever the definition of stress, we don’t need a diagnosis to
know it when we have it – our bodies tell us. We tell ourselves.
We tell each other. ‘Stressed out’ is as ubiquitous a term in the
today’s world as ‘have a nice day’.
In a 1966 study by R.S. Lazarus entitled Psychological Stress and
the Coping Process, this definition was offered: “…stress arises
when individuals perceive that they cannot adequately cope with
the demands being made on them or with threats made to their well
being.”
Oddly, stress is not always the byproduct of a negative event. Any
bride or bridegroom to be can tell you they are stressed, even
though their upcoming nuptials are a pleasantly anticipated
occasion. (For that matter, the bride’s parents may also admit to
stress just getting the reception paid for!)
With this conundrum in mind, stress can be defined as the
“automatic state that results when the body (your body) is told to
make changes in order to adapt to any demand.”
Realizing what is causing you stress in your life is the first
step towards minimizing your stress tension.
First, try and identify what your stress sources are.
We all have them – those occurrences that cause stress. Maybe it’s
unrealistic expectations, work situations, health concerns or
family matters.
Sometimes it’s a sudden traumatic event: a death or an accident.
We shared this type of stress as a nation following the terror of
9-11.
To help handle any of these stressful situations requires we apply
certain coping styles. Here are a few suggestions to help:
1) A positive mental attitude is a key to stress management. If
you help yourself realize you cannot control all events, all
things, you’ll be better able to handle the unexpected outcomes.
2) Be realistic. You’re not perfect nor are you going to be
perfect. In our 21st century society, we often try to do it all.
You know the Superwoman/Superman image – the perfect go-to
employee, the perfect mom/dad, the perfect community volunteer.
These aspirations are in themselves wonderful, but realizing you
can’t do it all is a major step toward reducing your stress
levels.
3) Leave your work at work. This may seem easier to some of you
than others, but it’s worth your while to leave the office
problems at the door when you head home. They’ll be there again
tomorrow and in the meantime you can use your down time to
concentrate on your well-being and that of your family or circle
of friends.
4) Simplify. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks on your
to-do list? You’re not alone. Work at being better organized.
Spending 20 minutes looking for your notes before an important
meeting will definitely help spike the stress quotient. Better
organize your home, your office, your car to save yourself stress.
You’ll be amazed.
5) Prioritize. We’re living in a tension-filled, rush-rush
society, but prioritizing your daily tasks may help you eliminate
a lot of stress. Let’s admit it – some of these duties must be
done today, but others can wait. Make a list – do what can and
should be done now, break the larger demands into smaller, more
manageable tasks, delegate and eliminate. Stress reducers, all.
6) Take good care of you. Remember the phrase “nurture the child
within.” Though it may be in the cliché pile now, do realize the
sentiment remains true. Your feelings of stress and anxiety can be
coped with better when you are healthy, well rested, and joyful.
Work at it. Get enough sleep. You’ve heard the studies that say
your productivity declines when you are sleep-deprived. Learn to
relax with deep breathing exercises. It’s a simple matter of
breathing in deeply through your nose, filling your lungs. Exhale
all that air. This is a great at-work tension buster. Eat right –
more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and foods high in protein
and less fat.
7) Don’t forget your mind and spirit. Yes, as mentioned, caring
for your body will help you cope with stress. But let’s not forget
your mind and spirit. When you feel stress, tension and/or anxiety
in your life. Spend time with friends and others who will offer
positive feedback. Laugh often. Even the stressful work
environment will lighten with a little well-placed humor.
Remember, if the stress appears to be more than you can handle,
don’t be reticent about speaking to a doctor, spiritual advisor or
other mental health professional. What you want is to be better
able to cope with stress, and whatever it takes for you to feel
better about yourself is worth it. Life is short. Live it well.
Ultimately, the good news about stress is that you have more power
over stress than you may realize.
If you have trouble dealing with stress, we
recommend using
Extress.
Extress is a homeopathic and nutrition
supplement that is exceptionally effective in providing the body
with the nutritional requirements which aid the body during
periods of stress, tension, anxiety, minor phobic reactions and
complaints of generalized patterns of anxious discomfort.
The natural ingredients in Extress complement the body's natural powers
to reduce stress and anxiety. The specific doctor-formulated Extress
formula naturally diminishes emotional sensitivity and mood
swings, calms and focuses attention, relaxes muscles and reduces the possibility of stress-induced head pain and muscle aches.
Extress also helps diminish hyperactivity, aggression and anger
outbursts.
