Stress : Factors, Signs, Consequences and Management

What is meant by stress?

Stress cannot be explained in a single term. Stress is an expression of the mind for over demanding of a particular work. It is closely related to mental and physical functions of the body. In day to day modern and fast life everybody feel stressed when we face an unfavorable conditions or any disturbances in the routine activity like delays, sound pollution, unfriendly working atmosphere, serious disease conditions, severe pains in any part of the body. Therefore we can say that stress is a non specific reaction of the body to any situations either an enjoyable or not.

Common factors for stress:

• A work place should be convenient and comfortable with a pleasant atmosphere. The work should be felt like a play. As we enjoy a game while playing we can also enjoy the work if we consider it as playful. If we consider it as work for which we are paid then it will become uninteresting and stressed. When you enjoy your work you ignore the time and the strain. When it is dis interesting you get stressed. Disinterested work, angry boss, suspicious, Sacking, Punishments, loosing a job etc are some of the causes for stress.
• In the family situations a strained relation ship with the spouse, poor financial conditions, Children’s education, un happy situations in the family, loss of dear ones, divorces, and such situations result in stress.
• The other common situations for stress are preparing for a public speech, attending for interviews, facing a new situation, chronic illness, and prolonged worries also results in severe stress.
• While we are outside un bearable sounds, quarrels and huge gatherings results in stress.

Actually we cannot single out a particular factor produces stress that anything of a over demanding natured factors on the body and mind results in stress.

What are the signs of stress?

• Loss of temper.
• Moody behavior.
• Poor concentration.
• Over critical.
• Headache.
• Excessive motor activity.
• Difficulty in making decisions.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Frequent micturition.( Urination)
• Reduced sex drive and loss of interest.
• Sweating of palms and feet.
• Resorting to drinking of alcohol and abuse of drugs.
• Hyper-acidity and gastric disturbances. Feeling fullness.
• Back, neck and body pains are some the early signs of the stress.

What are the consequences of stress?

If stressful conditions are short and transitory stress will not produce any bad signs on the body. If the cause is removed the individual will become normal and can return to normal activity. If stress is prolonged and chronic it affects the health of the individual and does more damage.

• Stress is reported to be responsible for high blood pressure. Prolonged stress results in increased heart rate and causes in hypertension.
• Stress also cause hyperacidity and consequent gastric ulcers and disturbances in the gastro intestinal tract. (Diarrhea). Also causes anorexia or overeating and obesity.
• Stress produces constant head aches.
• Mental disturbances. Persons become irritable, loose temper and try to be eliminated from society, depressed and take up to alcohol drinking and abuse of drugs.
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Stressed people are prone to do accidents due to poor concentration.
• Stress also lowers immunity. Sleep will be disturbed for people with prolonged stress resulting in lowered immunity. A good sleep favors to gain lost energies and boost immunity levels in the body.
• Stress also causes back aches, arthritis.
• Stress also causes allergic reactions in the body.

How to manage stress?

We have seen the signs of stress. As a first step identification of the factors causing the stress should be identified. It is not an easy task to identify the stressors. But one must try to identify them carefully and try to eliminate the factors responsible. First try to identify your thoughts, life style and behavior. Often it may be difficult to eliminate all of them. Therefore one must be able to find out other ways to cope with it. If the problems are of mild nature some of the following can be tried to eliminate them and become stress free.

• Try to practice to say ‘No’ to excess work load more than your capacity.
• Refrain from people causing you stressed by over talkative, disturbing your routine and wasting your time.
• If you are unhappy in a particular situation try to keep away from it like a theater, or congregated places or a boring conference.
• Avoid people who always argue without any sense and on useless issues and on others.
• Think positive and be more positive in your attitude. Even in your failures think positive and try to find out the reasons for your failures. Don’t blame others for your failures.
• Some times stress cannot be avoided for example in the case of sudden loss of close relatives. In such cases try to take it in positive way though it is difficult to say.
• Over reaction to a particular incident or towards others leads to stress. Control and try to talk calmly and coolly.
• When you are stressed try to read good book comedy books, or see a comedy film, or hear good mild enchanting music of your choice.
• Try to spend time with your close friends.
• Do gardening or spend time with your pet.
• Visit to a temple or spend some time in a nice resort away from city life.
• Have a nice sleep.

If the stress is rather prolonged and bothering you very much you can resort to the following activities

Exercise:

Regular exercise keeps you away from stress. Select a suitable time and draw a schedule for it and follow it. The selected activity should fit into your daily routine and should not be boring. Once you start continue it.The following exercises can be practiced as per your age, fitness and choice

• Yoga.
• Yogic exercises.
• Breathing exercises.
• Jogging
• Walking.
• Swimming
• Playing games.
• Relaxation Exercises.

All the exercises listed above except walking should be done initially under the guidance of an expert and also try to take a medical expert. Lastly in spite of taking every care if you are not getting out of the stress it is necessary to take medical assistance in the matter otherwise it may lead to severe complications on your health