Managing the stress: coping better with changes in life
Background. Basically stress can be viewed as our body' s response to defend itself. This is useful in many emergency situations (getting out of fire, wild animals or other external threats). However it cause physical syndrome if it happens for too long. In addition, stress is also thought by scientist to worsen auto-immune disease by affecting two glands in the brain -the hypothalamus and the pituitary.
Sources. Any kind of changes in your life can be a source of stress including the positive one like job promotion. Stressor is also unique to each personmeaning that what is stressful to you might not affect other people. Common source of stress includes: death of spouse or family members, loss of job, illness, injury, financial problem, moving, and having a baby. Another source of stress is major depression itself, which has been found to raise the level of stress hormones such as cortisol, with their subsequent effects on the hippocampus and other parts of the brain.
Symptoms. Our body reacts naturally to any stressor. The symptoms that we can feel when we are stressed out are:
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Lack of sleep or insomnia
- Problems with relationships
- Shortness of breath
- Stiff neck
- Stomach upset
- Weight loss or gain
- Panic and anxiety
- Back pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Depression
- Fatigue
Treatment. Researchers at Uni Chicago have identified stress as the prime
force that bends a person's brain toward violence and aggression. The good news
is that there are effective treatments today both pharmacological and
psychological, not only for people with depression but also for those with many
other disorders.
Prevention. To cope better with the stress, maintain positive attitude towards your life in general. The way you view and interpret changes in your life greatly affects your stamina in dealing with the stress. Finally, I save the best for last. To protect yourself from your daily stressors, eat good and balanced food and exercise regularly 3-4 times a week. Food and exercise can do wonders to maintain your wellness and sense of well-being.
