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Stress is the ‘wear and tear’ our minds and bodies experience as we attempt to cope with our continually changing environment. People often tend to think of pressure at work, queuing for services or rush hour traffic. These events may well be triggers but stress is actually the body’s reaction to such factors and is activated by adrenaline and other stress hormones, which stimulate a variety of physiological changes. These changes include increased heart rate, blood pressure, faster breathing, muscle tension, dilated pupils, dry mouth and increased blood sugar. Stress is the state of increased stimulation that the body needs in order to defend itself when faced with danger.

Whenever we feel tired, anxious, tense and frightened, depressed or elated, we are undergoing stress. Stress has become an acceptable and also avoidable part of normal everyday existence. Contrary to established opinion stress is not an exclusively modern phenomenon; it has always been part of human existence and life without stress would be difficult to endure. Certain types of stress, such as physical and mental exercise, sex and intense creativity are desirable. It is only when real or perceived change overwhelms the body’s ability to cope, that stress becomes harmful, leaving us prone to unwanted physical, emotional or mental reactions and illnesses.

The causes of stress are varied and multiplied but they can be divided into two general categories, which are external and internal. External stress includes physical environment, social interaction, organisational, major life events and daily hassles. Internal stress includes lifestyle choices, stressful personality traits, mind traps and negative self-talk. These factors generate various symptoms of emotional and mental stress, the most common including anger, anxiety, worry, fear and depression.

Excessive, prolonged and emotional stress may have a harmful effect on mental, physical and spiritual health. If left alone, the feelings of anger, frustration, fear and depression generated by stress can set off a number of illnesses. It is estimated that stress is the most common cause of ill health in modern society. Stress is a contributory factor in relatively minor conditions such as headache, digestive problems, skin complaints, insomnia and ulcers. It also plays an important role in the leading causes of death in the western world, which are cancer, suicide, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis of the liver, respiratory disorders and accidental injuries.

Stress can also have a positive effect. It is essential for motivation and awareness, providing the stimulation that is required for us to cope with challenging situations. Tension and arousal are necessary for the enjoyment of many aspects of life and without them existence would be extremely boring. Stress also provides the sense of alertness and urgency needed for survival when confronting threatening situations.

There is no single level of stress that is optimal for all people. Everyone is different with regard to their perceptions of and reactions to events; what is distressing to one person will be the complete opposite to another. Even when we agree that a particular event is distressing, we are likely to differ in our physiological and psychological approaches to it. Some individuals are more sensitive to stress than others, owing to the experiences in childhood and the influence of teachers, parents and religion. It is also important to bear in mind that most of the stress that we experience is actually self generated. How we perceive life depends to a large extent on how we perceive ourselves. Self generated stress is something of a paradox because so many people think of external causes when they are depressed. Recognising that we create most of our own depression is an important first step towards coping with it.

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Andrew Tomkinson is a writer of articles on health related subjects. He also recommends fitness, health and nutrition products and services to improve your lifestyle and well being. Do you want to be healthier, have a better quality of life and take full advantage of the opportunities open to you? GO HERE -

http://www.fitnesshealthnutrition.org