“Stress is not a medical diagnosis. It becomes severe if it is not controlled or eliminated. This leads to anxiety, depression, or leads to a problem in a person’s mental aspect.” Stress is a part of life. It has a normal response to demands emotionally, intellectually, or physically. It is exhibited in two ways, a positive result and a negative result. If it keeps a person attentive at all times, motivated and prepared to stay away from danger, then it has a positive effect. When stress becomes severe that it increases the risk of health complications like heart failure, depression and supplementary problems, it is said to have a negative impact. The key to good health is to manage stress properly. It is not difficult to manage stress.
Positive and Negative Sides of Stress.
There is a positive side of stress. There is a definite point necessary or enjoyable for a person to help himself prepare something to do when stressed. For example, if a person need to finish up an important task in a short time, even the person who is used to and enjoys doing the task would feel stress. This would have a positive influence on the individual since the stress itself would keep the person more alert and focused in order to beat the stipulated time. A physical reaction to stress is determined by the person’s biological history. It helps take action against sudden danger that might threaten a person in a stressful state. This therefore implies that the response to danger is to face the stress or plight. There is short – term positive effects and a long – term negative effects of stress. In a short-term positive effect, the person tends to act very energetic, is less tolerant to pain, and has increased immunity and heightened memory. Long term negative effects lead to health complications like blood sugar imbalance, increase in abdominal fat storage, bone density, and weakened muscle mass, high blood pressure, lowered immunity and lack of concentration.
How stress affects health.
The nervous system of the person has a built-in stress response that causes a physiological change. This physiological change allows the body of the person to fight a stressful situation. However, this response becomes de-activated the moment the stress is prolonged. The prolonged period can wear the body both physically and emotionally. The absence of relief to a person who suffers from stress can lead to distress. Distress is a negative reaction and can disturb the internal balance or equilibrium of the body. This imbalance can lead to physical symptoms like headaches, stomach upsets, elevated blood pressure, chest pains, sexual dysfunction and sleeping problems. Other problems include depression, panic attacks, and some forms of anxiety or worry. The worst symptoms that link to severe stress are heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, liver problem, and suicide.
Controlling stress
A person can learn to manage stress and can live a happier and healthy living. There are many ways to help a person control and even eliminate stress. It is important to keep a positive attitude; accept that there are events which are out our control, be assertive instead of being aggressive. An individual ought to own views or principles as a substitute of anger, be self-protective or passive. Learning and practicing better relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, Tai – chi, eating well balanced meals and exercising can help reduce stress. A person must set limits, say no to requests that create excessive stress in life, and make appropriate time for hobbies and interest. Enough rest and sleep are essential as well because the human body needs time to recover from stressful events. Instead of depending on medicine, or eating just to lessen stress, it is beneficial to seek out for social support like spending enough time with loved ones or opening up to a close friend; it is openness that leads to harmonious relationship. Lastly, a person can seek treatment from a psychologist or a qualified professional in stress management.
In conclusion, people vary in relation of stress tolerance. There are situations that are intolerable to one person but may be very stimulating to some other person. The feelings of a person are determined, not only by how a person perceives and responds to stress, but also by events and changes in the outside world. The significant point is that a person can learn to recognize his own responses to stress.
References
Conrad, M. (2013). Stress Management, Retrieved from
http://www.medicinenet.com/stress_management_techniques/article.htm
Mercola, D. (2012). 10 Simple Steps to help De – Stress, Retrieved from
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/10/10-steps-to-manage-stress.aspx
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013). Exercise and stress: Get moving to Manage Stress, Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise-and-stress/SR00036
