How to Reduce Stress

Stress is a reality in anyones life at one time or another. If you have a demanding job, stress can be even more of a ever present reality. The long run damage caused by stress are evident to medical science after many years of study and research done on the effects stress has on the human body. Being in a high stress sate is like keeping your body on overdrive throughout the day. Blood pressure, hormones, and emotions are continually aroused by stress; putting you in a position of heightened risk for many different negative health conditions. Asthma, cancer, obesity, heat disease, diabetes, ulcers, depression, colds, flu, rheumatoid arthritis, and liver psoriasis are among some of the horrible conditions and disease whose cause can be stress related.

How Stress Effects the Body

Fear, anxiety, social situations, physical pain, emotional trauma, and other negative events or situations can cause an individual stress. Your nervous system and hormones are usually the hardest hit by intense stress. Hormonal changes are the primary suspect for the correlation of stress and the aforementioned health threats. A hormonal imbalance that is not corrected can cause many different problems. For example, heart disease could be caused by a hormonal imbalances which causes the blood to be pumped too rapidly throughout the body. The way fat is synthesized in the body can also be modified by the hormones; thus stress can cause harmful alterations in your body fat which can lead to blocked arteries and other related illnesses.

Stress can also take a toll on the body's immune system, which is comprised of lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells. Viral infections, bacterial infections, and even cancer cells can be given more of a chance to gain a foothold in the body of an individual with prolonged high levels of stress. The correlation between immune system deficiency and stress is found in the hormones stress causes the body to release; namely cortisol, and adrenaline. Cortisol and adrenaline, unfortunately for highly stressed individuals, have a weakening effect on the immune system; thus causing elevated susceptibility in people with high stress.

How To Handle Stress

Exercising and keeping your body healthy are great ways to improve self esteem and keep you feeling and looking great. Eating a balanced diet is another way to keep your body's hormones in balance as well as keep off unwanted pounds. Caffeine and other stimulants should be taken out of your diet; stimulants can actually worsen anxiety!

Drinking alcohol is not an easy escape route from stress. The horrible effects of alcohol on the body, as well as the negative social connotation of an alcoholic develops are two great reasons not to use alcohol as a way to escape from stress. These two factors will eventually worsen your stress. Do not trade a short term vacation from stress for a greater problem in the long-haul.

Using time-management and other efficiency techniques is a great way to make sure you complete the tasks and projects you need to. Efficiently using your time will cut down on the stress caused by incomplete projects and help you lead a more controlled, relaxed life.

Keeping a positive attitude about your situation is another essential psychological tool you can employ to ensure you aren't over stressed by your own thoughts. If you keep speaking about a situation as impossible or horrible, chances are you will believe what you say; leaving you feeling helpless and trapped. How you perceive a stressful situation is half the battle in overcoming the situation with as little stress as possible. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking. Getting around an encouraging friend can be a great way to help keep you above water; emotionally speaking.