About stress
Some stress may help your body to prepare for certain challenges, so it's probably impossible to live without any stress. But too much stress, especially if it's day in, day out, can cause physical and emotional problems.
So that your body can respond almost instantly to challenges, many of its control mechanisms happen without you having to think about them. This involuntary control of things such as how fast your heart beats, is achieved by a network of nerves called the autonomic nervous system. This is an essential part of the "fight or flight" response.
As well as triggering responses in muscles, such as your heart, your autonomic nervous system sends signals to your hormonal system, triggering the release of chemical messengers such as adrenaline. These are released into your bloodstream and travel all around your body contributing to the "fight or flight" response by, for example, making you more alert, boosting your blood pressure and releasing sugars into your bloodstream. This results in a heightened - or stressed - state that prepares your body for optimum performance in dealing with the situation.
The modern stresses we face in our everyday lives - such as deadlines at
work or money troubles - don't really trigger a fight or flight response.
However, they do release the same stress hormones, and this natural reaction
can damage health and reduce the ability to cope.
Stress and illnesses
The exact role of stress in causing illnesses isn't known. However, it's clear that stress can temporarily weaken the immune system. And put under too much stress, the body becomes exhausted.
If you are stressed, you may also be more exposed to risk factors for diseases.
For example, smokers may smoke more if they are stressed, and people who
drink alcohol to relieve stress may become dependent on it. In the long
term this will push up your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and
of developing certain cancers. Overall, if you are under long-term stress
you are at greater risk of developing disease or dying prematurely.
Causes
Many things (or the anticipation of them) can lead to stress. These include:
* pressure to perform at work or at school
* threats of physical violence
* money worries
* arguments
* family conflicts
* divorce
* bereavement
* unemployment
* moving house
* marriage
Often there is no particular reason for developing stress, and it's caused by a build-up of a number of small things.
Stress can be caused by a range of common situations. However, people have very different responses to stress. For some people, stress can be useful, helping motivate them to achieve more. In others, particularly if it goes on for a long period of time, it causes a sense of not being able to cope.
It's important to differentiate between temporary stress that you know
will go away when a situation is resolved, and long-term or chronic stress.
Most people can cope with short periods of stress. Chronic (long-term or
continuous) stress is much harder to deal with, and can be psychologically
and emotionally damaging, both for you and your friends and family.
Symptoms
Everyone reacts to stress differently, but there are some common effects to look out for. In times of extreme stress, people may tremble, hyperventilate (breathe faster and deeper than normal) or even vomit. For people with asthma, stress can trigger an asthma attack. People who are chronically stressed may have:
* periods of irritability or anger
* apathy or depression
* constant anxiety
* irrational behaviour
* loss of appetite
* comfort eating
* lack of concentration
* loss of sex drive
* increased smoking, drinking, or taking recreational drugs
* There can also be physical effects, which may include the following: excessive
tiredness
* skin problems, such as eczema
* aches and pains resulting from tense muscles, including neck ache, backache
and tension headaches
* increased pain from arthritis and other conditions
* heart palpitations
* feeling sick
* stomach problems
* for women, missed periods
Post-traumatic stress
Post-traumatic stress can affect anyone who has been through an extremely difficult or violent experience, such as witnessing a violent death or disaster, being involved in a serious car crash, or surviving a fire.
People suffering from post-traumatic stress may experience any of the symptoms
listed. They may also feel a mixture of emotions such as fear, shame, depression,
guilt or anger, and recurrent memories or images that may be haunting or
lead to nightmares. These feelings can last for weeks, months or even years
after the traumatic event that triggered them. Specialist treatment, possibly
with medicines and psychological therapies, is available.
Treatment
If you have recently experienced any of the following:
Low energy level
Character shifts or mood swings
Hearing Constant Negative Inner voice(s)
Abuse of drugs (including alcohol)
Impulsive and Compulsive behavior
Memory problems
Poor concentration
Sudden onset of anxiety or depression
Sudden onset of physical problems with no obvious cause
New phobias or aversions
New allergies
New food cravings or taste preferences
New attitudes or prejudices
... contact me soon, or
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Stress treatment has been practised through
the ages
Brisbane Stress treatment is powerful and natural
Brisbane Stress treatment allows the body to heal naturally
Brisbane Stress treatment is complementary to medicine
Brisbane Stress treatment helps to relieve stress
Brisbane Stress treatment assists with all forms of ailments
Brisbane Stress treatment can bring about personal transformation
Brisbane Stress treatment works on all levels of the body
Brisbane Stress treatment helps to maintain health
Brisbane Stress treatment can be practised by all
Brisbane Stress treatment is free of side effects

