Holistic well-being in the workplace and at home

What is Stress

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“The uncomfortable gap between how we would like our life to be and how it actually is”

The increasing demands of modern life can put enormous pressure on the mind and body. Some stress is part of life and is not necessarily a bad thing; it is a normal response to danger and positive stress provides us with the spur to achieve. But when stress is long-term it can affect you physically, emotionally and spiritually, impacting on your well-being.

Stress can be described as anything which disturbs the normal balance of mental and physical health. Causes of stress may be mental, physical or environmental. For example, an accident or injury is a source of physical stress, whereas noise or bad lighting are both sources of environmental stress. Mental stress is probably the most widely spoken about source of stress; it is how we are affected emotionally by everyday worries over finance, relationships and work.

EFFECTS
The symptoms of stress generally manifest in behavioural, emotional and physical ways. If you regularly experience more than 5 of the following, you may need to take action.

Emotional

Irritability and anger
Poor memory and lack of concentration
Feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to cope
Depression
Tearfulness
No sense of humour

Physical

Constant tiredness
Insomnia
Muscular aches and pains, headaches
Skin problems
High blood pressure
Panic attacks
Indigestion, heartburn

TAKE ACTION
Tips to help you minimise stress

You are what you eat - a well balanced diet will help your body cope with stress. Indulge in foods that are rich in vitamins B, C and Zinc and try to incorporate lots of fresh fruit and veg. Monitor your caffeine and alcohol intake.
Clearly communicate your thoughts and ideas to minimise misunderstandings and potential frustrations.
Learn some relaxation techniques such as Tai Chi, meditation and Yoga to help manage your stress.
Exercise regularly to boost the release of the body’s natural feel good chemicals know as ‘beta-endorphins’.
Treat yourself to a pamper day. This is a day where you escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and enjoy some stress free time. You’ll also feel great and give your well being a huge boost.

Exposure to any sort of stress prompts an immediate biochemical reaction known as the ‘fight or flight’ response. Stress hormones are released into the blood, causing the following:

Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Raised blood sugar and cholesterol levels
Faster breathing and perspiration
Increased muscle tension
Disruption to the digestive system
Emotional tension
Suppression to the immune system

If the cause of stress is taken away or dealt with, the body reverts back to normal functioning, but if the stress continues the body learns to cope by adapting. You may feel as though everything is normal, but your body is using up energy stores and over time this can affect your ability to function efficiently, resulting in tiredness, irritability and lethargy. Long term stress changes the balance of hormones in the body and leads to exhaustion. Your body can become run down with recurring minor illnesses.

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