Stress: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Articles | Stress

Stress can be a big problem which robs you of everything from peace to your good health. Stress is supposed to be a response mechanism by which your body recognizes danger and garners the courage to try something new. This is what helps your body focus, handle tough situations and gives you the strength and alertness to handle danger and sometimes the stamina when you need it most. Whenever human beings are provoked bt stressors, their bodies respond by activating the nervous system. The hypothalamus instructs the adrenal glands to pump in adrenaline into the bloodstream.

These hormones are what are responsible for the heart racing, the sweating of palms and the rising of blood pressure. Pupils in the eyes dilate and then improve a persons’ vision. Blood vessels which are found throughout the body dilate as well in order to allow for better circulation to the important organs of the body. Even the liver releases the necessary glucose in order to give the body the needed energy boost that it requires. These natural responses to stress tend to be quite beneficial and help a person act fast and much more effectively to the situations that they are faced with.

When Stress Goes Bad.

The response listed above is necessary in the case that an emergency occurs but when the body is subject to such responses over time, it experiences little or no relief and this may lead to a number of physical ailments. When the nervous system is a constantly activated state due to a continuous level of stress, the body starts to deteriorate, the person feels overwhelmed and the immune system overworked. A great number of people tend to experience some of the physical signs of stress such as stomach pains; chronic diarrhea; fatigue; headaches; insomnia; shortness of breath; weight loss (or gain); and even shortness of breath. Many of these people however fail to note that this stress may lead to more serious ailments such as high blood pressure; angina (chest pains); Type 2 diabetes; increased asthma attacks; and even heart attack and stroke. Excessive stress is detrimental for the human body.

Signs of Stress Overload.

Stress is a fast growing disease these days, 80 percent of the population in America tend to report the feeling of extreme stress at their places of work on a daily basis. This doesn’t include other factors such as home and family stressors. It is not a surprise that the offices of many doctors are filled with patients showing signs that are related to stress and anxiety. Overload from stress is becoming a whole lot more serious and modern society tends to be promoting its increase with hectic work schedules, demanding work environments and the failure to recognize the symptoms of overload. You should watch out for these symptoms of stress before it gets too late:

-Emotional Upheaval, such as mood swings, anxiety, difficulty falling or staying asleep, sadness, anger, trouble concentrating, excess worry and overwhelming feelings of not being good enough or sadness are all signs that stress is getting its way with you.

-Physical Signs such as tiredness, sweaty palms, throbbing headaches, trouble eating (stomach upset), or overeating, as well as muscle tightness can all be a sign of stress overload.

-Behavior Changes, such as overreacting, acting on impulse, using alcohol or drugs, withdrawing from relationships and changing jobs often can also signal trouble.