Stress And Associated Illnesses

Stress in it's natural form is healthy for us. An overload however, places us under pressures we can't always deal with, without professional intervention. We sometimes tend to become so overwhelmed by a certain event, that the stress does not subside, and left untreated it can cause feelings of futility and ensuing depression.

Fight And Flight:

When we become stressed, physiological changes occur. We may shiver or shake and our heartbeat and blood pressure rises as stress hormones are released into our blood stream. This is known as the fight mechanism. The flight mechanism is the opposite, where we're returning to a feeling of calm; suppressing the need to vent or confront. Adverse effects from the body not returning to this stable state result in dizziness, sustained and rapid heartbeat and anxiety. Acute psychosomatic illness is highly likely to occur if a person remains in this stressed frame of mind.

Physical Illnesses Caused By Prolonged Stress:

The body's immune system can suffer greatly if we are not able to relax, and the onset of many conditions which might not otherwise have developed can disrupt one's life to a crippling extent. One can become ill with one or more of the following, diseases, and many more not listed here.

-Anorexia and other eating disorders.

-Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

-Heart Disease

-Diabetes

It is even said that some Cancers have been bought about as a direct result of stress overload.

On a lighter note, as previously mentioned, stress is helpful to us also, as it helps us to evolve and teaches us how to cope in various situations. Stress can be pleasant too, such as welcoming a new child into the family. It is the unknown which cause us to react negatively. By learning to cope with different events we are faced with, we are more able to achieve our highest potential.

Stress Relief:

Simple ideas such as walking for physical exercise, or having a hearty laugh with friends are great ways to relieve stress and keep our blood pressure in a normal range. If we perceive life in a manner which is calm, we reduce the incidence of suffering from hypertension and other conditions which are known to develop into other more sinister diseases. Yoga, Meditation, Imagery and Hypnotherapy as well as chemical treatments can all assist us in maintaining a healthy mind and body.

Additional Tips To Reduce Stress:

-Listening to quiet music.

-Planning your itinerary before leaving to drive somewhere.

-Taking time for stretching every couple of hours.

-Slow, deep breathing

-Laughter

-Avoiding alcohol and caffeine excess.