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| STRESS |
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Stress is the way that you feel when pressure is placed on you from
physical, psychological or chemical factors. Each of us has a different
threshold and varying reactions to stress and therefore the causes
are numerous and highly individual.
In general, some pressure can be good to motivate and help you perform
better whether that's during a sporting activity, at work, or with
your daily activities. Too much for too long, however, can often lead
to an unhealthy state of mind, body or behaviour. Excessive stress
undermines performance, can make people ill and is costly to employers.
Stress Hormones
The body's natural reaction to stress is for the nervous system to
respond by releasing a flood of hormones, such as adrenaline, noradrenaline
and cortisol, which help us fight or flee the situation. It is a normal,
unconscious response to the sense of danger, emergency or challenging
situation in which we find ourselves, and it is our body's way of
coping and protecting us. By virtue of what they do, some of these
hormones put us into a state of alert by increasing blood pressure
and the heart rate as well as the amount of sweat that we produce.
Others shut down emotions not necessary in emergencies and the result
is that growth, reproduction, digestion and the immune systems all
go on hold and blood flow to the skin is reduced.
Once the stress response has been activated, it stays in a state of
readiness. In many cases during daily life however, we are not in
a position to either defend ourselves or escape the problem and so
these excess hormones build up over time.
Physical Reactions to Stress
An excess build up of these hormones and chronic exposure to stress
can lead to health problems such as:
Heart disease
Pain and tightened muscles
Digestive disorders
Sleeping problems
Respiratory disorders
Obesity
Autoimmune diseases
Skin conditions such as Psoriasis and Eczema
Infertility
Psychological Reactions to Stress
In the UK, anxiety and depression are the most common mental health
problems, and the majority of cases are caused by stress.
Often these psychological pressures can cause us to exacerbate the
problem in a number of ways, for example:
- over eating for comfort
- taking stimulants or drugs to lift the mood, which inevitably have
after effects including disturbing sleep patterns
- excessive physical activity which can lead to burn out
In 2007/08 an estimated 442 000 individuals
in Britain, who worked in the last year, believed that they
were experiencing work-related stress at a level that was making
them ill.
In 2007/8, there were an estimated 13.5 million lost working
days due to work-related stress conditions.
Labour Force Survey (LFS); Health
& Safety Executive 2008 |
| Any of the treatments
offered by In Touch can help reduce the effects that stress
and stress related conditions have on your body. |
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| CAUSES OF STRESS |
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Although these will vary from
person to person, some common causes include:
• Major life changes
• Work
• Relationships
• Financial problems
• Bereavement
• Family & Children
• Lack of Time
• Competitiveness
• Physical or Emotional Overload |
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| FEATURED VIDEO |
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Coming soon. |
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