Stress is Funny
Posted on August 21, 2008
Filed Under Healthy |
Stress is funny. Not ha-ha funny, but odd funny. It can motivate you to improve your life. But, it can also ruin your health and your life.
What stress does to you seems to hinge on how much stress you have and what sorts of stress. It can also hinge on what your past has taught you about stress - how you have learned to react to stress.
The physical signs of stress are supposed to help you survive - fight or flight. In the modern world, this is very rarely any help. Most stress today is psychological.
Psychological stress will come from issues such as concern about money, relationships, and your health. Your body’s physical reaction to stress does not help these situations. Since these situations are common and long-lasting, your body can potentially be in a constant state of stress.
Your body being in a constant state of stress causes stress related health problems ranging from muscle pain, sleep disorders, poor decision making, PTSD, depression and stomach problems. The health trouble from stress can add to the stress you already have.
It becomes obvious that managing your stress is preferred to letting it go. But, there are thousands of people telling you how to do this. Making the right choice for you comes down to finding what fits your problems as well as your lifestyle.
Looking into what causes you stress as well as how you experience stress.
It helps to decide if your stress is from situations or behaviors - Is your stress in proportion to the current situations or does it feel blown out of proportion? It may not be easy to figure this part out on your own.
If your stress is situational, what are the situations and can they dealt with in a practical way? Do you have the time and energy to get some form of exercise and a proper diet? (I know from personal experience, if I have high stress, it is when my life is too busy to work-out or get to the grocery store for planned meals. That’s when I need to slow down.)
If your stress is behavioral, spending some time analyzing the triggers may help. Look at your past and see if it is making your stress higher than it should be. Stressful memories of the past can and do effect us every day. (The stronger the emotion, the more vivid the memory. The more vivid the memory, the stronger the stress you will continue to feel from it.)
After becoming more aware of your stress, you will have a better idea of how to take care of it.
Situational stress is easier to figure out and will eventually be behind you. Behavioral stress may require outside help to get through. But, it IS possible, and IS worth accomplishing.
If you have a behavioral stress controlling your life, seek professional help. Medication is sometimes an answer, though many people that have used medication for stress, experience side effects that are a trade-off. They sometimes say they would rather feel stressed than live in a daily fog of medication.
Research your options and educate yourself about them. Then, find what works for you and do it. When it comes to improving your life, the only poor choice is to not try.
Comments
Leave a Reply