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Stress:
The body's physiological and
psychological response when
perceived demands exceed
perceived resources
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Stress is often
defined as a
fight-or-flight
response.
This is the
body’s response
to perceived
threat or
danger. During
this reaction,
hormones (i.e.
adrenalin, cortisol) are
released,
speeding the
heart rate,
slowing
digestion,
shunting blood
flow to major
muscle groups,
and changing
various
autonomic
nervous
functions,
giving the body
a burst of
energy and
strength.
Originally named
for its ability
to enable us to
physically fight
or run away when
faced with
danger, it’s now
activated in
situations where
neither response
is appropriate,
like in traffic
or during a
stressful day at
work. When the
perceived threat
is gone, systems
are designed to
return to normal
function
but in our times
of chronic
stress, this
often doesn’t
happen and
causes damage to
the body.
http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementglossary/g/FightorFlight.htm |
The sources of stress vary
from person to person and
while an identical event,
(lost wallet) may cause one
person to become identity-
theft -hysterical it may
cause another to simply go
into problem solving mode -
“now if I were a wallet,
where would I be?”
Common stress generators are
both external and internal
to the individual. External
causes may include worry
about
the state of the world, the country, just
Fulton or even just Lake
street; along with a slew of
unpredictable events, the
environment in which you
live or work, work itself,
church and of course
family. Internal causes can
come from poor health habits
(smoking, excessive drinking
of alcohol and overeating),
negative attitudes and
feelings, unrealistic
expectations, and
perfectionism.
Untreated, stress can have a debilitating effect on personal,
social, and professional
relationships and can
absolutely devastate our
minds, emotions, behaviors
and bodies.
Intellectually, symptoms of
stress may include:
problems with memory,
difficulty making decisions,
inability to concentrate,
shortened attention span,
confusion, repetitive or
continual thoughts,
misunderstanding of what
others tell you, poor
judgment, thoughts of
escaping, running away,
racing thoughts and loss of
objectivity.
Emotionally we may find ourselves plagued with sudden shifts in
mood, frequent uneasiness,
restlessness, frustration,
anger, resentment,
unwarranted jealousy, quick
irritability with others.
oversensitivity,
overreaction to unexpected
situations or events, a
sense of being overwhelmed
or swamped, anxiety,
increased fear of failure,
inadequacy, reduced
confidence, depression,
apathy, desire to cry and a
lowered interest in hobbies
or fun,
Behaviorally stress can more or less “ make you” sleep too
much or too little, isolate
yourself from others, stay
home from work or stay at
work extended hours,
increase use of tobacco,
alcohol, drugs, caffeine,
have sex more or less,
engage in nervous habits
such as nail biting, hair
twisting, pacing, grind your
teeth, laugh or cry at
inappropriate times, overdo
activities such as
exercising or shopping,
become bossy or inflexible
with others, lose your
temper, argue with people,
become violent, take
inappropriate risks and
exhibit road rage
Physiologically, the effects of stress on our bodies, results in
headaches, digestive
disorders, muscle tension
and pain, sleep
disturbances, fatigue, chest
pain, irregular heartbeat,
high blood pressure,
weight gain or loss, hair
loss, asthma or shortness
of breath, skin problems,
periodontal disease, jaw
pain, missed periods and
reproductive problems,
immune system suppression
and sweatiness.
Sadly and additionally, stress
contributes to cancer,
diabetes, depression,
obesity, anorexia nervosa,
substance abuse, ulcers,
irritable bowel syndrome,
memory loss, and child,
elder, and sexual abuse.
Needless to say, high levels of stress require immediate
attention. The
more serious
considerations are related
to our way of thinking,
beliefs and expectations and
may require the assistance
of a trained counselor. The
most serious require the
assistance of a medical
doctor.
Environmental changes,
however, are generally
thought to be the first line
of attack. They can be
activated by simple
choice and the results
are immediate. It’s
surprising how much easier
life is when we stop:
attempting to do so much at
one time, setting
unrealistic time estimates,
falling prey to poor time
management, procrastinating
on the unpleasant, being
disorganized, practicing
poor listening skills, doing
it all yourself, being
unable to say "no", having
trouble letting other people
do their job, impulsive
decision making, blaming
others and not taking
responsibility for the
quality of your own life.
In addition to concrete
environmental changes the
research indicates that
stress can be managed
effectively with closer
connections to your church,
spiritual community, family
and friends; and with simple
mind, body, spirit and
wellness techniques i.e.:
deep breathing, meditation,
yoga, journaling, humor,
good nutrition and exercise
(click or
scroll down for 101
self-nurturing
ideas).
Adapted: Understanding
Stress by
Joelle Belmonte
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm
Endnote: Last week, my friend Sheryl invited me to serve on her
Luncheon Panel for Bells
Chapel’s Women’s Day. I
used the above Stress Scale
and following the program, a
lady stopped to tell me that
her score was 465.
Later a second woman called
for additional materials and
while we were talking she
shared that her score was
well over 400. In both
cases, I gasped and pleaded
with them to promise to get
with their physicians or
ministers and create a
stress management plan right
away. I worry so much for
them (raising my own stress,
no doubt) but actually, I
shouldn’t be surprised. I
suspect they are the norm
rather than the exception
for the area.
I marvel at the spirit of
the people here in Fulton
that care deeply for others
and consistently prioritize
everyone else over
themselves. Accumulating stress
points all wilily nilly
as they go. Certainly
caring is not something
we want to eliminate or
discourage. However as we
travel our "Fulton" way
tending and befriending,
sacrificing and nurturing, I
prayfully offer the
reminder given by one of my
co- panelist last week and
coined in the title of a
popular book:
“In
case of an emergency- put your own oxygen mask
on first!” |
