Stress is a normal reaction to the everyday events that life throws our way. A deadline is looming at work, and you feel the stress, for example. This could be a good thing.
A normal level of stress makes you more alert – more likely to stick to the task at hand, and less likely to get off track. The trouble lies in chronic stress. Chronic stress is what happens when life’s challenges become overwhelming, and you either can’t cope, or you feel as if you are hanging on by a thread. To make matters worse, it’s a feeling that persists day in and day out.
When you are stressed, your body produces hormones that place it in a flight-or-fight mode, which prompts you to take action – even when it’s not reasonable action. When the threat dissipates, your body returns to its relaxed state. These hormones produce a surge of energy when you are constantly in a stressed state. Unfortunately, they can bring about very serious psychological and physical problems when they persist nonstop. You feel as though you can never relax because you are always in a state of alert – always trying to decide if you should run away [flight] or deal with the issue at hand [fight].
Health Problems That Can Occur When the Body and Mind is Chronically Stressed
Chronic stress can cause headaches, upset stomach, back pain, and insomnia. It weakens the immune system and exacerbates existing health problems. It can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack. Chronic stress can cause moodiness and depression as well. If the people around you are continually suffering as a result of your chronic stress, it can damage your relationships if not completely destroy them.
When you are continually stressed, your ability to concentrate is affected, and you may not do well at work or school. You could lose your job or receive a failing grade. Chronic stress needs to be, at the bare minimum managed, but in the best case eliminated entirely.
How to Manage Chronic Stress
I wish I could offer a one-size-fits-all remedy, but the reality is some stress management techniques work well for some people and not for others. However, regardless of the stress management techniques that work for you, your first step is to recognize that you are suffering from chronic stress.
If you are experiencing chronic stress, the best thing to do is remove those things from your life that are causing stress. That being said, I recognize that removing stressors is not always possible. Therefore, the next best thing is to develop coping mechanisms.
For some individuals, the answer lies in yoga, Tai Chi, meditation, or even just going for a walk. You may find, however, physical activity doesn’t do the trick. Others use journaling as a way of getting the tension out of your body. Even this might not be enough though.
Other ideas for coping with stress include, but aren’t limited to:
- Talking things over with a trusted friend, loved one, or colleague
- Watching or reading comedies – laughter is the best medicine as they say
- Practicing and mastering mindfulness – living in the moment and training yourself to focus on what is happening now rather than what could happen
- Honest conversations with people that cause you stress
- Working with a mental health professional
If chronic stress is plaguing you, a few additional remedies you may want to consider are getting enough rest, eating right, and limiting your alcohol intake. The truth is, stress is normal, but chronic stress is not. If you feel plagued by the consistent symptoms that come with chronic stress, don’t dismiss it. Get help before it takes over your mind, body, and spirit. You don’t have to suffer in silence!
Hammond Psychology and Associates is the go-to resource for residents seeking psychological evaluations from a licensed psychologist in the Tampa Bay area. Click here to learn more about our Psychological Testing services in our Brandon location.