STRESS

Some degree of stress in life is beneficial; most people would find a life in relaxed tranquility extremely dull. Healthy stress helps us to get things done and so,to success and achievement.
When stress becomes a problem, this is more often than not the result of continuous mental or physical pressures that individuals find impossible to meet. The trigger point varies from person to person, some people thrive on a degree of stress but excessive stress, or suffering from stress over a period of time, is generally not good for the health (90 % of medical conditions are stress-related).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

Individuals vary in their reaction to stress, but if you frequently experience any four signs or symptoms in each of the three categories that follow, or any eight of them on occasions, consult your doctor and work on relaxation techniques to reduce your stress level.

Emotional signs:
-Irritability or over-excitability / Feeling depressed / Suspiciousness
-Intolerance of others or yourself / Aggressiveness or Anger / Tension
-Fussing over small things / Restlessness or Impulsiveness / Despondency
-Loss of concentration / Feelings of frustration / Feelings of panic
-Anxiety about minor things / Frequent crying / Feeling of being apart
-Nightmares or Disturbed dreams / Hesitating over decisions
-Loss of interest in sex / Illogical worries or Fears
-Feeling of loss of control

Behavioral signs:
-Increased alcohol consumption , use of medication, smoking, casual sex
-Overeating /Obsessive dieting or taking laxatives
-An eye tic / Gnashing or Grinding of teeth / Frowning / Hair twiddling
-Finger or Foot tapping / Nail biting/ Pacing the floor / Prone to accidents
-Scratching the scalp / Excessive concern about time / Increased lethargy
-Loss of interest in personal appearance / Loss of sense of humor
-Difficulty in getting to sleep or back to it / Difficulty in waking

Physical signs:
-Headaches / Dry mouth or throat / Butterflies in the stomach
-Indigestion/ Nausea / Constipation / Diarrhoea
-Unusual gain or loss in weight / Unusual gain or loss of appetite
-Skin problems- eczema, hives, rashes
-Ulcers / High blood pressure / Palpitations
-Excessive sweating / Cold sweats /Rapid or irregular breathing
-Tightness in the chest / Increase incidence of allergies / Frequent colds or flu
-Premenstrual tension( PMT) / Impotence or Frigidity

Having recognized the problem, there is much that you can do for yourself to help resolve it.
Look at the main cause of stress in your life and decide how you can reduce their levels.
Look at your workload and decide how to cut it down if you need to. Prioritize, Delegate, Eliminate.
Concentrate on problem-solving , unresolved problems continue to produce stress.
Increasing the amount of exercise you take will help, but you should not undertake a program of vigorous exercise without consulting your doctor.
Eating regularly and healthily is also important, you should feel better within two weeks if you improve your diet, cutting out caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine.

Learning how to relax your muscles and breath deeply and calmly will help you to manage stress more effectively.
Therapies that will help with stress are: massage,reflexology,acupuncture,craniosacral therapy,
reiki, kinesiology,yoga, meditation, aromatherapy...............