StressWHAT? WHY? WHEN? HOW?

Definition of Stress:Stress can be considered a mental or an emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstance

What is stress?

Stress is our body’s and brain reaction to unusual demand.

Stress can be a reaction to positive or negative demand or situations.

Different people stress and cope with stress in different ways.

Any change can produce stress for the human body, whether it’s a minor, major and especially an extreme change.

Being stress can cause additional stress to a person’s mental state

What causes stress?

There are different causes of stress. There is stress caused by work, life, and worrying. Being unhappy at work, working long hours, a heavy

workload, insecure of advancement and termination. Life stresses can be the death of a loved one, divorce,

moving into a new home, chronic illness, emotional problems and many more.

Suffering of fear/ uncertainty, having unrealistic expectations, change, and attitudes/ perceptions.

Symptoms of stress

There is no part of the human body that is immune to the effects stress can produce.

Stress affects everyone in different ways, therefore symptoms can be very vague and can be inaccurately measured.

There are various symptoms of stress ranging from emotional to physical symptoms.

There are also cognitive and behavioral symptoms as a result of stress.

Symptoms of Stress (continued…)

Emotional Symptoms:

One can become easily agitated and or frustrated

Under stress a person can feel overwhelmed and as if they are unable to take control of situations.

Stress can cause a person to have a low self esteem

Stress makes it difficult for a person mentally relax

There are other emotional symptoms of stress that are not listed above

Symptoms of Stress (continued…)

Physical Symptoms: Low energy levels, headaches

and upset stomachs are physical symptoms that can be caused by stressed.

Insomnia, dry mouths, aches/pains and tense muscles can be caused by stress.

Some of the most dangerous symptoms of stress which often cause greater stress to a person are chest pain and a rapid heartbeat.

There are many more physical symptoms of stress.

Constant worrying

Racing thoughts

Forgetfulness and disorganization

Inability to focus

Poor judgement

Being pessimistic or only seeing the negative side of things

Symptoms of Stress (continued…)

Cognitive Symptoms:

Changes in appetite whether they are increases in appetite or a decrease in appetite

Procrastinating responsibilities

Increased usage of addictions such as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes

Demonstrating nervous behaviors such as nail biting, pacing or fidgeting

Symptoms of Stress (continued…)Behavioral Symptoms:

Consequences of stress?

There are quite a few consequences to stress, which in the long run also turn out to be causes of stress: Weight loss/weight gain Loss of immunity to sicknesses Depression Decreased ability to heal Activating survival mode Insomnia

…And many more

Preventing stress

Stress is vital in the human body, it helps the human body function to its best potential.

A person can avoid situations that cause abnormal levels of stress which later prevents any form of anxiety.

Some steps that can help prevent stress are to identify stressors, avoid controllable stressors, set limits and avoid getting overwhelmed.

Preventing excess stress can help lead to healthier lifestyle, but we must always remember not all stress is bad. Some stress in life is healthy in life.

How to deal with stress

There are many forms of dealing with stress. Below are a couple of examples of the better ways to deal with stress: Getting fresh air and some sunlight which provides

Vitamin D can elevate levels of serotonin. Focusing on other things for example nature can help redirect one’s focus.

Establish some rituals; for example taking a bath, walking your dog, and listening to music on a morning commute.

Establishing healthy habits such as exercising, playing sports or eating healthy will help lessen any stress caused by weight loss/ weight gain.

Conclusion

There are various causes of stress. Stress can be cause by work, life and also worrying. There are also many symptoms that can be used to determine stress but it is not guaranteed the symptoms will be caused by stress or that the symptoms can determine stress. There are four categories of symptoms which are emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral. There are some consequences of stress that in the long run can cause more stress. Although stress can be at time dangerous or can make life difficult it is needed so that our bodies can produce at its full potential. Some stress is better than no stress

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