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.
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.
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.
