Stress is Out to Get You

Just when you thought you had enough to worry about with work and life and all the elements that make up living, there's another target on your back. Stress is out to get you.

Humans are the only species (as far as researchers can tell) that have the capacity to overthink and worse, use that ability often. Too often. Studies show that worrying and fretting increase blood pressure, lower immunity and send harmful hormones speeding through your system. These hormones have the power to affect your heart and increase depression, among other effects.

Stress happens. It isn't necessarily the stress that gets us. It's when we don't get past it. When we let worry take root, we release stress to wreck havoc. One study shows that continuing to fret actually amplifies stress, increasing the damage done.

De-stressing can lessen harmful effects. Listening to music, exercise, taking a nature walk and other forms of relaxation help the body return to a normal, healthy state.

Research shows that brooding over things that stress you (often things you can do little or nothing about) increases the release of chemicals that adversely affect the immune system. Stress results in the release of cortisol, a hormone that hinders the immune system and may contribute to cardiovascular disease.

One study involving worrywarts suggests that men who worry too much are actually shortening their lifespan and die sooner than men who do not worry. Adults of both sexes can suffer a multitude of symptoms and illnesses due to worry.

Worry and stress aren't limited to adults. A study of adolescent girls found that young female worrywarts are more likely to abuse alcohol and suffer alcohol related problems, experience depression and suffer from eating disorders.

Arming Yourself Against Stress

You can break the worry habit. It may not be easy but it may well be life-saving. People tend to fret more over solving problems or dealing with trauma. Fretting never fixed anything.

If you are fretting over problems, try to deal with them realistically. If there's more than one, make a list. Face each problem head-on. If the problem is finances, what can you realistically do to fix it? Can you seek the services of a financial counselor? Many are free. Are you in a position to take on an additional job?

Are you suffering financially because of an inability to say no to others? Is your paycheck going to someone else's bills instead of your own? Some parents let their own needs and responsibilities slide while supporting grown children. Some individuals allow family members and church donations to siphon away all of their funds.

Are you simply incapable of handling money? Do you spend it as fast as you get it? Find someone you can trust to manage it for you. Have them pay your bills and give you an allowance.

Next to money, one of the most popular worries is that of worrying about everything that could happen. This is overthinking in high gear. Letting yourself get caught up in the vicious cycle of 'what if' is like attaching a worry IV to your arm. The hours you spend worrying over things that aren't likely to happen at all leave you wasting time while flooding your body with stress chemicals.

If you must worry, schedule an appointment. Set aside five minutes to worry. When the five minutes is over, stop worrying.

Meditation is a proven antidote to worry. Set aside regular time to meditate or pray. If you can empty a closet and turn it into your own private haven, do so. Put a small radio or cd player inside and play relaxing music.

If your friends are worrywarts and inclined to be negative, make new friends. Worry is contagious and it isn't smart to deliberately put yourself into a worrisome environment.

Positive thinking has proven over and over to be an effective method of defense against illness and stress. Practice positive thinking. Let it empower you.

Stress may be out to get you but that doesn't mean you have to surrender. You can defeat stress. You have the power.