Is The Stress Affecting Your Life?

Modern life is fast and demanding; Stress has become a way of life!

When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rouse the body for emergency action. Is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. That's kind of what skunks do when they feel threat, except they take it out of their system.


Possitive Effect When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life – giving you extra strength to defend yourself. It also helps you rise to meet challenges.

Negative Effect  When stress is too much it disrupts nearly every system in your body, raising blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Signs and Symptoms The more signs and symptoms you notice in yourself, the closer you may be to stress overload.

Cognitive Symptoms
Memory problems

Inability to concentratePoor judgmentSeeing only the negativeAnxious or racing thoughtsConstant worrying

Emotional Symptoms
Moodiness
Agitation, inability to relax
Feeling overwhelmed
Sense of loneliness and isolation
Depression or general unhappiness
Irritability or short temper

Physical Symptoms
Aches and pains
Nausea, dizziness
Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
Loss of sex drive
Frequent colds 
Diarrhea or constipation

Behavioral Symptoms
Eating more or less
Sleeping too much or too littleIsolating yourself from othersProcrastinating or neglecting responsibilitiesUsing alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relaxNervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)


Causes of Stress

External Causes:
Major life changes, work, relationship difficulties, financial problems, being too busy, children and family.

Internal Causes:
Pessimism, negative self- talk, unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, the inability to accept uncertainty.

We all respond differently to a given situation for three main reasons: 

1. We do not all interpret each situation in the same way.
2. Because of this, we do not all call on the same resources for each situation
3. We do not all have the same resources and skills.

Stress Interviews

Are YOU stressed? 

• Am I in control of stress or is stress controlling me?
• When I feel agitated, do I know how to quickly calm and soothe myself?
• Can I easily let go of my anger?
• Can I turn to others at work to help me calm down and feel better?
• When I come home at night, do I walk in the door feeling alert and relaxed?
• Am I seldom distracted or moody?
• Am I able to recognize upsets that others seem to be experiencing?
• Do I easily turn to friends or family members for a calming influence?
• When my energy is low, do I know how to boost it?

If you answer yes or so, you might want to take action: 

• Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. 
• Avoid people who stress you out .
• Take control of your environment .
• Avoid hot-button topics.
• Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. 
• Express your feelings and thoughts.
• Look at the big picture.
• Focus on the possitive.