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What Happens To You When Stress Strikes?
All we need to do is look at our lives and see what is happening to us. We are in an insane hurry. Our highways are more crowded and people are in a hurry. Road rage is rampant. Fast foods are more popular than ever. We rush to answer the telephone in three rings. How about the long lines in stores, post office and amusement parks? And those are just a drop in the bucket. More and more people are finding life miserable!
There is good stress which is exhilarating. It feels like riding a canoe in a swiftly flowing stream. You are under control. When it is over, you look back at the situation and feel proud. You brought out the best in yourself. You rose to the challenge.
There is also bad stress. You feel like a runaway train. You are out of control. Afterward, you are exhausted. The next day you look back on the situation and feel like you could have accomplished more. Nothing good came of it.
We are bombarded with constant change. Researchers estimate that we encounter a thousand times more events per year than our grand parents. However, the time available for decision making has remained the same, or has even decreased.
We feel we have to manage it all, resulting in uncertainties and mental overloads. Some how we keep going, but our bodies protest against our demanding life style.
The flight or fight syndrome has been greatly reduced for modern man. Modern man is more sedentary, his body has no way to get rid of the adrenaline that has been pumped into it. The adrenaline has a harmful effect on the body and causes it to break down.
Let me tell you what we are talking about. You get a telephone call late at night. It is the police! They tell you about the automobile accident your teenager was in. How do you feel? We call this feeling "The sledgehammer effect." You faint, go numb, you can't think, and you go into shock. Health deteriorates! That is stress in action.
Another word for stress is challenge. It is how we test ourselves to reach our full potential. Stress is like the strings of a violin. If they are too tight, the string might break. When they are adjusted to just the right tension, they are capable of playing beautiful music. It is the same with stress in our lives. Without enough or stress, we may become sloppy and lazy. With too much stress, however, we too can reach the breaking point. When we have just the right balance, we can successfully test our capabilities.
It is important to control the stress in your life. Make it work for you and not against you. Prolonged stress can result in high blood pressure and is contributing cause of heart disease.
What can we do to help ourselves? * The first thing to do is to take control of your time by making priorities and pace yourself. * Assert yourself. If you want it ask for it. If you do not like something, say so. Do not keep quiet and suffer all night thinking about what you should have said. * In times of stress, people need people. Seek the comfort and support of people you trust. We need someone who will listen to us. Although simple, these help measures really work!
About the Author About the Author: Bill Havens knows the importance of putting stress management tips into action. For information on what causes stress and more, visit his self development network marketing site Winners Bounce. |
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