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Stress ~ the silent killer
You are not alone. Stress is a phenomenon affecting all people from all walks of life, in all countries.
Stress is man’s psycho-emotional response to everyday challenging issues and its overload of demands, in excess to his capacity to cope.
What causes stress?
Stress can be caused by multiple reasons that occur in everyday life, like unexpected turns and twists in career, relationship problems in family or outside, financial losses, fear of disease or death, even a small tiff with near and dear ones may cause stress.
As goes the saying, “There is no stress either before birth or after death”
How does stress affect us?
The manifestation of stress depending upon its intensity or duration. It begins in the head, but descends down to affect the whole body. There can be a healthy body only when there is a healthy mind. It may manifest outwardly as:
· Insomnia
· Involuntary weight loss or gain
· Irritability
· Anxiety
· Anger/ Rage
Stress being silent operator, most people do not realize that they are dangerously living with it, till they suffer from its grave after affects.
And when prolonged without intervention can lead to serious issues like:
· Bodyache/Backaches ( all pains seem exaggerated in stress)
· Asthma ( not all but some asthmatic attacks are result of psychogenic stress)
· Hypertension
· Stomach ulcers
· Diabetes
· Heart (cardiovascular) diseases.
· Depression
· Suicides.
Studies show: Stress is a major contributing factors either directly or indirectly, to coronary artery disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, injuries due to accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicides.
DO YOU KNOW?
One American is reported to be dying every minute due to stress related cardiac arrest. The medical costs due to direct or indirect consequences of stress alone have been estimated in the United States at well over 1 billion US dollars per year.
A person tries to commit suicide in China every two minutes, giving the country one of the highest suicide rates in the world. These have positive correlation with high intensity stress, owing to an ultra modern life style in a highly competitive environment.
What should you NOT do during stress:
Smoking§
Drinking too much§
Overeating or under eating§
Long hours in front of the TV or computer§
Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities§
Using pills or drugs to relax§
Sleeping too much§
Procrastinating§
Keeping too busy to avoid facing problems§
Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence)§
Carry your office work or stress at home.§
KNOW THAT: “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” ~Mark Twain
How to control Stress:
The key principle to follow in case of stress would be to ignore what cannot be controlled and to control what cannot be ignored.
Face the music: For managing stress there can be two approaches ‘fight’ or ‘flight’. Either face the music or escape it. You cannot wish away stress. It is and will be an integral part of modern and increasingly competitive society.
Stay in control: Do not let the stress to control you. Keep stress under check through will power, proper cultivation of mind, cultivation of positive psyche and meditation.
Be an optimist: Optimistic outlook, cheerful temperament, positive attitude, cultivating sympathy, self discipline, all help to keep mind in good shape. Session with God can be a kind of divine-de-stressor.
Eat Healthy: By having a healthy diet, doing regular exercise, and getting enough sleep your body will be able to cope with the stress.
Move forward: Do not needlessly get tied to the past, get over hangover of the last night and start the morning with a hope for a bright day and brighter tomorrow.
Think of pleasant past, enjoy your present and plan for a future with cheers.
Be a home pigeon: Make home your loves nest, where office does not exist. Parents, spouse, children are your love companions. Reserve Sundays and holiday for spending time with your loved ones, for relaxation and recreation. Your family is the last line of defense against stress.
Tickle your funny bone: Include humor in your life. Laugh away the oddities of life.
Love yourself: Have a ME time. Listen to music, see movies, read favorite authors, cultivate hobbies.
Be a social animal: Invite friends over at home, eat together, laugh together, spend week ends or vacations out with friends.
BOTTOM LINE: You can yourself pose to CALM down stress, what ‘CALMPOSE’ cannot do.
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