What is Stress: General Overview
Dictionary.com defines stress as “the physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on one thing by another; strain.” In the case of our everyday lives, stress comes from many directions as we juggle life’s responsibilities and experiences.
Expectations are placed on us every day. Some of those expectations are more stressful than others, and some of them are so routine and mundane that we don’t even bat an eye.
These situations or experiences can be called “stressors” or “stress triggers”. A stress trigger, in this context, is one that brings on symptoms of stress.
We all deal with these stressors and experiences in different ways and we all experience different stress symptoms in terms of stress triggers, and onset and severity of stress symptoms. Over time, prolonged periods of stress can lead to heart disease and decrease the effectiveness of our immune system.
Physical Symptoms of Stress
If you’re feeling stressed, your body may show it through:
• Headaches
• Muscle tension or pain
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Change in sex drive
• Upset stomach, ulcers
• Difficulty sleeping
These are rather obvious and common physical signs of stress. Some lesser known ones include:
• Hair loss and some forms of baldness
• Mouth ulcers and dryness
• High blood pressure
• Increase in asthma-related symptoms
• Menstrual disorders, recurrent vaginal infections
• Impotence and premature ejaculation
• Outbreaks of eczema or psoriasis
Emotional Symptoms of Stress
There are also emotional signs of stress such as:
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation or focus
• Irritability or being easily angered
• Sadness or depression
Of course the people that can be affected most by these signs of stress are the people we care about and who care about us. Stress doesn’t have to be spoken out loud. It naturally permeates the entire atmosphere of a home and affects our ability to take care of our families and provide a safe, secure environment for them.
We can’t keep stress completely out of our lives, but we can be an example of how to properly manage our stressful situations so they don’t negatively impact our families.
Behavioral Symptoms of Stress
Stress also affects how you interact with others and how you treat yourself:
• Overeating/undereating
• Outbursts of temper
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Tobacco use
• Isolation from doing things with other people
These are extremely unhealthy behaviors -- unhealthy emotionally and physically, and often continue in a cycle that is hard to break out of. These behaviors can even increase the severity of the emotional and physical signs of stress.
It is important that we learn to recognize when stress is driving these behaviors and to find healthier, less destructive ways of coping. Engaging in destructive behavior will not make the stress go away or even lessen it, or improve our capacity for handling it in a constructive manner.
If you feel that your symptoms of stress are too overwhelming for you to handle on your own, there is no shame in asking for help. See your doctor immediately if you feel your stress level is out of control or your reaction to the stress in your life is poorly managed. Empower yourself with the experience and expertise of others to find constructive, not destructive, ways to cope with your stress.
Sources:
Stress. Dictionary.com. Web. Dec 27, 2011. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stress
Stress symptoms: Effects on your body, feelings and behavior. Mayo Clinic. Web. Dec 28, 2011.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-symptoms/SR00008_D
Effects of Stress. The American Institute of Stress. Web. Dec 28, 2011. http://www.stress.org/topic-effects.htm
“Stress” by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD. Medicine Net. Web. Dec 28, 2011. http://www.medicinenet.com/stress/article.htm#what
Reviewed December 28, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith