Stress is that worn out word we are totally tired of hearing, but let's face it, prolonged stress
wears not only on our energies and good humor, but on our overall well being. A little stress
can be a good thing: it can provide the push we need to get motivated, help us perform at
our best, or keep us focused and alert. But when life starts getting too tough and the
demands of our daily lives exceed our ability to cope, stress can become a threat to both our
physical and emotional well being.
When we are faced with too many things to do and too little time to do it in, it is easy to skip
meals or grab fast food, skimp on sleep or exercise, or not allow yourself any personal time.
It is also easy to ignore what your body is saying. If your body is telling you to slow down or
that something is not right, pay attention to it. Too often we do not listen to our bodies no
matter how loudly they may be speaking. It is a well known fact that there is a direct
correlation between stress and physical illness. Therefore, it is important for you to be
vigilant for signs of emotional and physical stress and be kind to yourself.
Those who are overloaded by stress are more susceptible to illness and disease than those
who are not. Emotional disturbances cause the autonomic nervous system to respond by
going into “fight or flight” mode. The body then produces steroids at higher levels which, in
turn, increase the heart rate and blood pressure. While elevated steroids are a normal
response to stress, excessive steroid production over a period of time can diminish your
health. Prolonged stress to the nervous system also impacts the immune system, resulting in
a major decrease in the body‘s ability to fight infection. Highly stressed individuals are more
prone to colds and other minor illnesses and may find that pre-existing health conditions are
becoming worse.
What exactly is "stress?"
Properly defined, stress is a psychological and physiological
reaction to events that upset our personal balance and
emotional equilibrium.
Internal Causes of stress:
Not all stress is caused by life's pressures and demands. Stress can also be self-generated.
Internal causes of stress include:
How do you know if stress is affecting you? The following is a list of common warning signals
and symptoms of stress. If you can recognize your own red flags you can take steps to deal
with stressful situations and your reactions to them before they spiral out of control.
| Common Signs of Stress |
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Judith Albright, EFT Practitioner