Understanding Stress & Anxiety Disorders

Stress has been a part of our life since the beginning of life itself on this planet.
Stress is tension or pressures that are a natural part of our lives.
We live in the time of tremendous pressure and demands and we have our own particular stressors in this era in which we live.
What stress is means a lot of different things to a lot of people. Anything can be stressful to you if it requires you to change, move, or respond. So stress may include getting up in morning, working where people are not supportive, or experiencing an unfortunate occurrence in your life, a loss or challenge. It requires adaptation. It may be accompanied by a sense that wellbeing is threatened.
Getting along with other people is stressful.
The more responsibility you have and the lack of perceived control is stressful.
Time pressures and deadlines of having so many things to get done, and the chronic burden of never getting through everything, are stressful.
Repetitive tasks, housework, laundry, child care, and especially if you feel isolated without help, are stressful.

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Inner states, including a lack of self-confidence or self-worth, not feeling up to a task, and generalized anxiety or fear of the future add to the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Buffers are less available to many of us in our fast paced demanding lives.
There is an increased sense of isolation from family members and community due to our functioning at the speed of light, decreased family dinners and sitting down together.
When it feels threatened, the body has a reaction to pour stress hormones into the blood stream and ready us for action. We are ready to fight or run in response to this threat. Blood is diverted to large muscles. Heart rate goes up, cardiac output goes up, and hair stands up on back of neck. This is our body’s Stress Response and is a valuable built in mechanism in order that we survive.
A lot of times we experience this reaction as IF we are being threatened when we are simply being challenged.
The chronic experiencing of this arousal results in dis-ease.

If you frequently find yourself feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, it's time to take action to bring yourself into balance. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of stress and taking necessary steps to reduce its harmful effects is necessary.

Effects of stress on thoughts and feelings may include:

Increased feeling of tension

Feeling irritable or restless

Anxiety/nervousness/worry

Irritability

Feeling insecure

Lack of focus

Burnout

Forgetfulness

Trouble getting to sleep, or staying asleep

Generalized unhappiness or “feeling out of sorts and not right”

Effects of stress on your body may include:

Dry mouth

Racing heart

Difficulties breathing/shortness of breath

Stomach upset/“butterflies” in stomach

Headaches

Muscle tension/neck, low back pain

Increased sugar

Frequent urination

Sweating palms

Rashes/skin irritation

Effects of stress on behavior may include:

Poor performance

Overeating/undereating

Angry outbursts

Social withdrawal

Crying spells

Relationship conflicts

Drug or alcohol abuse

Increased smoking

The ability to tolerate stress depends on many factors including your general outlook on life, the quality of your relationships, degree of emotional intelligence, and genetics.

Factors that serve as buffers against life's stressors include:

Your support network- A strong network of supportive family members and friends.

You're sense of control- Self-confidence and a sense of being able to influence events and persevere through challenges.

Your attitude and outlook- An optimistic attitude and tendency to embrace challenges, have a strong sense of humor, and accept that change is a part of life.

Your ability to deal with your emotions- Knowing how to calm and soothe yourself when feeling afraid, sad, or angry.

Your knowledge and preparation- The more you know about a stressful situation, including how long it will last and what to expect.

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Anxiety Disorders