A Look At Stress
what is stress? symptoms of stress dealing with stress work related stress what a stress management treatment entails benefits to stress management cost
What is Stress?
Stress is not necessarily a bad thing, despite a generally negative image. It is an inescapable part of being human and a normal response to challenge. Without a certain amount of pressure, such as hunger, we might never get out of bed in the morning nor seek the will to eat. Positive stress is the incentive to do our best, the buzz of excitement before a big event, or the element of risk that sustains ambition. A life without any challenge, with too little to do and too much time, can be as great a source of negative stress as too much work and too many deadlines.
When stress starts to affect our daily lives however, we do need to take a look at what is happening. The body's response to stress the "fight or flight" response, which triggers the stress hormones, breathing becomes shallow, reinforcing the messages of alarm being sent to the brain. If this "over-breathing" continues, too much carbon dioxide is removed from the blood, which then loses its proper acidity. This directly affects the nerves and muscles, prompting symptoms such as faintness, palpitations and panic attacks.
Long ago in the cavemen times, the fight or flight response was to watch out when hunting for food and danger came close, such as an attack by a wild animal. In the mordern world however, the stresses we face are more likely to be mental and emotional, and this can make people vulnerable to a harmful build up of "fight or flight" hormones.
Stress is a well-known trigger for depression and it can also affect your physical health. So it is important to identify the causes of stress in your life and try to minimise them.
Symtoms of Stress
Here are some common signs of too much stress:
Increased irritability
Anxiety
Allergies
Panic attacks
Muscular aches and pains
Fatigue
Heightened sensitivity to criticism
Signs of tension, such as nail-biting
Sleeping problems not enough sleep or too much sleep
Drinking and smoking more
Indigestion
Loss of concentration
Butterflys in the tummy
Loss of appetite or too much appetite
Regular headaches or migraine
Skin complaints including eczema
It is very important to listen to your body, and what it is telling you and act to relieve damaging stress before it affects your physical or mental health.
One response to stress can be anger. Finding ways to reduce this negative stress is very important.
The Physiological Effects of Stress
Stressful situations can trigger the body's "fight or flight" response to stress. If too much stress persists, mental and physical health are undermined, partly because the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol interfere with the functioning of the circulatory and immune stystems.
Relaxation combats many of these effects.
Response to Stress
Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, heartrate and blood pressure increase
Liver releases energy stored as glycogen, blood sugar and cholesterol levels increase
Faster breathing, increased metabolic rate
Muscular tension, increased production of lactic acid
Gastric acids increases or decreases, digestive enzymes and peritalisis inhibited
Increased levels of cortisol, immune system inhibited
Emotional tension as attention focused on emergency reaction
Long Term Effects of Stress
High blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, irritability
High chlesterol levels
Breathlessness, hyperventilation, palpitations
Muscular aches and pains, including headaches and back pain
Nausea, indigestion, constipation, ulcers, food intolerances
Skin rashes eczema
Raised cortisol levels increase the risk of problems in the immune system
Emotional outbursts, depression
Dealing with Stress
By looking after yourself and where possible, removing some of the causes of stress, if you start to feel things are getting on top of you, give yourself some 'me time' (breathing space). Take one day at a time and do not be too hard on yourself. Remember life is not perfect and neither are you. You are a human being after all and we all have negative feelings at some point in our lives, so dealing with the symptoms can really make a huge difference in how you feel inside.
Some ways to cope with stress:
Walk away from stressful situations
Practice slow breathing using the lower part of your lungs
Have a massage
Use relaxation techniques
Let of steam in a way that causes no harm (shout, scream or hit a pillow)
Talk to someone
Know your limits - don't be too competitive or expect too much of yourself
Do one thing at a time - don't keep piling stress on stress
Laugh
Take a long walk
Try to spend time with people who are rewarding rather than critical and judgmental
Work Related Stress
Stress caused by work is the second biggest occupational health problem in the UK (after back problems). Because there is still a stigma attached to mental health problems employees are often reluctant to seek help in case they are seen as unable to cope. When people feel under impossible pressure at work, they tend to work harder and harder to try to close the gap between what they are achieving and what they think they should be achieving. They stop taking breaks and lose touch with their own needs. Then physical or mental problems can start to show.
What a Stress Management Treatment Entails
At the first initial consultation regarding your health, medical problems, lifestyle, diet etc.
Talking about you and how you are feeling. We will go through ways to help you manage stress on a daily basis, in a more positive way.
We will go through breathing exercises and advise you on ways you can help yourself: i.e.
Time management, massage treatments, relaxation techniques and the importance of nutrition and exercise.
We will look at the situation holistically mind, body and spirit to help bring balance and harmony back into your life and to help keep illnesses at bay.
We will listen to you on how you are feeling, answering any questions you may have.
If we feel we cannot help you for any reason we will do our best to refer you to another professional that can. Everything you discuss is strictly confidential.
Benefits to Stress Management
Feeling in control of your life
Feeling happier
Sleeping better
Less viral infections i.e. colds, flue
Communicating better with others
Less headaches and migraine
Less general aches and pains (back, neck, shoulders etc)
Looking good, feeling healthier mentally and physically
Improved digestive system
The Response to Relaxation
Decreased adrenalin levels, lower blood pressure, less stress on cardiovascular system
Decreased blood sugar and cholesterol levels
Slower breathing, improved lung function and metabolic rate
Relaxed muscles, less lactic acid in muscles
Improved digestive process
Improved physiological stability
Increased activity of immune system, less susceptibility to illness
Emotional calm, increased alertness and energy
These benefits far outweigh the feelings of doom and gloom, that can happen at anytime in our lives,
sometimes through no fault of our own, and can make us feel ill emotionally or physically.
The most important thing you can do for yourself is to look after yourself Holistically Mind, Body & Spirit feeling the benefits for yourself, we are here to help.
When you feel happy it shows, and those positive feelings reflect back to those around you. You have better relationships.
When your immune system is strong and healthy so are you. Too much stress on the body slowly depletes our immune system, leaving us open to lots of health problems mentally and physically.
Cost
This treatment can last up to one hour or more with added treatments, please click on the Treatment and Prices page for more information or telephone any of the phone numbers advertised on this website, or click on the contact us page leaving us a message and your details i.e your name, contact telephone number and email address and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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