Living Well and Healthy, Part 9

Recognizing Stress.  Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize or admit that stress is affecting your health.  If you are aware of its effects and take corrective action, you’ll be able to cope with your stress.

Healthwise says the signs of stress are classic.  You may get a headache, stiff neck, backache, rapid breathing, sweaty palms, or an upset stomach.  You may become irritable and intolerant of even minor disturbances.  You may lose your temper more often and yell at your family for no good reason.  Your pulse rate may increase and you may feel jumpy or exhausted all the time.  You may find it hard to concentrate.

When these systems appear, recognize them as signs of stress and find a way to deal with them.  Just knowing why you’re crabby may be the first step in coping with the problem.  It is your attitude toward stress, not the stress itself that affects your health the most.

Managing Stress.  Some people try to relieve stress by smoking, drinking, overeating, or taking pills.  Healthwise suggests a better way:  Learn to control your stress level by avoiding the dangerous side effects of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.  Also, use your body to soothe your mind and use your mind to soothe your body.

Stress and tension affect our emotions and feelings.  By expressing those feelings to others, we able to understand and cope with them.  Talking about a problem with a spouse or a good friend is a valuable way to reduce tension and stress.

Crying can also relieve tension.  It’s a part of our emotional healing process.  Expressing ourselves through writing, crafts, or art may also be a good tension reliever.  Listening to our favorite music can relieve tension as many have experienced.  

Exercise is a natural response to stress; it is the normal reaction to the fight-or-flight urge.  Walking briskly will take advantage of the rapid pulse and tensed muscles caused by stress and release your pent-up energy.  After a long walk, your stress level is usually lower and more manageable.

Relaxation Skills.  Whatever you do to manage stress, you can benefit from the regular use of relaxation skills.  Relaxation is the exact opposite of the fight-or-flight response.

When learning relaxation skills, you must avoid outside distractions.  It may take some practice to become comfortable with these techniques.  Once you have trained your body and mind to relax (two to three weeks), you’ll be able to produce the same relaxed state whenever you want.

(On Monday, 27 May 2013, Part 10 will cover three methods of relaxation. – J.P.)