Stress Relief: The Effects of Stress

Is Stress a Friend or Foe?

Stress relief is something most people seek, but is stress really that bad for you?

Well, this largely depends upon on the circumstance as well as upon the length of time that stress stays with you. The best way to think of stress is to think of it as an acquaintance that you can tolerate, even appreciate, in small doses.

If you are in a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation and you feel the symptoms of stress, such as fear, anxiety, insecurity, pounding heart, etc., then stress is actually a friend, re-inforcing for you what you already know to be true: you are unsafe and you must do something about it NOW.

Perhaps in this case, you are already aware of this on an intellectual level, and even have a feeling about it, something along the lines of intuition. What's so good about stress then, in an instance like this? Despite knowing that you might be in danger in your head and feeling it in your gut, you might not do anything about it. That is, unless it's accompanied by some physical and emotional symptoms common with stress.

Without stress, we might lack enough motivation to spin into flight and follow our much needed fight/flight instincts. Admittedly, this might be when stress is your best friend, insisting that you pay attention to its warning signs, potentially removing you from harm's way.

Ever heard of too much of a good thing? Meet stress. In fact, too much of it will turn him/her into a life-threatening enemy. When stress lingers and stays long-term in your life, it inevitably negatively impacts upon your physical and mental well-being.

According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, when stress is present long-term, the body's inability to repair and defend itself weakens. What increases is the risk of someone becoming ill or injured.

When you experience long-term stress, a variety of problems can be thrust upon you. You might have any or all of the following symptoms: headaches, chest pain, high blood pressure, an inability to sleep, shortness of breath, anxiety, weight gain or loss, an inability to concentrate, disminished sex drive, sadness, irritability, forgetfulness, etc.

No one wants these problems, so of course, seeking stress relief is these circumstances is a very good idea.

Long-term exposure to consistent stress leads to other, more serious health problems. Some even say that stress is related to about 99% of illness. Why wouldn't anyone be seeking stress relief in these circumstances?

While it's difficult to measure exactly, one thing seems certain: long-term stress is bad for your health, and for your quality of life. And you must find healthy stress relief methods, whether it's yoga, meditating, enjoying a hobby or walking.

When you're deciding the value of stress relief, keep something important in mind. A tricky thing about stress is that its symptoms are very similiar to other serious medical problems. Simply put, someone might dismiss a symptom as being attributed to stress only, when in fact, it is a symptom for something much more serious.

Not that stress isn't a serious health concern, but you usually have some time to nip it in the bud before it becomes a serious concern. For example, someone with chest pain might be having a heart attack, but puts off seeking medical attention because they believe that the pain is a result of stress.

While stress may contribute to poor health, anyone who has any of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention because it could be more than stress. Stress, you see, is a very poor companion because it is a great distractor. And the last thing you want to be distracted from is attention to your good health.

No good can come out of having constant stress in your life on a regular basis. Absolutely none.

What if you're really stuck and can't immediately see a way out of eliminating stress? It's much more difficult than snapping your fingers and saying, "Ok. Stress, it's over between us. Don't call me ever again unless it's an emergency."

What if it's your job that is giving you stress? If it is, you're not alone. One in four people feel stress from their jobs, according to information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You don't have to necessarily leave it, and if you need the money from it and even like/love it, then you shouldn't quit.

You need to find better ways of coping with stress so that it's a win/win situation. You get to keep the job you love and/or need and you don't suffer constant stress from it.

What if it's your relationships that are causing you stress? Should you cut off all ties with these people? Not necessarily, but something about the way you handle the stress from those relationships or the quality of those relationships should improve.

What if stress is coming from a wonderful change, like getting married to the right person or moving to a fabulous new home? It's not surprising that even great events cause stress when they are accompanied by great change. Stress can definitely come from great change--change causes stress.

Very simply put, if you suffer from stress, you need to find ways to manage your stress, to get some great stress relief. This can be done on a small scale and have huge results. Taking even small steps will improve your quality of life and reduce your stress level, which contributes to better health.

Stress relief can certainly be a key ingredient in creating a healthier lifestyle.

See our techniques for suggestions on how to effectively remove stress.

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