I tremendous stress because of increased expectations. We are burdened with too many musts to meet with great changes of them being violated thereby stressing us. It is important to recognize when your stress levels are out of control. The most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it can creep up on you. Soon you get used to it. It starts with feeling familiar or even normal. You don’t notice how much it is affecting you even as it takes a heavy toll.
The signs of stress overload can be anything. Stress affects the mind body and behaviour in many ways and everyone experiences stress differently. Stress can present with memory problem. One is unable to concentrate. He makes poor judgment – seeing only the negative, he may become anxious and have roaming thoughts. He is constantly worrying even over trivial matters. One could develop some emotional symptoms such as moodiness. He becomes irritable, little things upset him. He may show a quick temper, gets agitated and is unable to relax. He may feel overwhelmed, lonely and isolated. He is depressed and is generally unhappy. He may develop some physical symptoms such as aches and pains all over the body. He may develop frequent stooling or not pass stool at all. He may feel like vomiting. He may feel his heart pounding or beating rapidly. He may have frequent colds or there would be a loss of self drive. There may be some changes in behaviour. One may find himself eating more or less, sleeping too much or too little, isolating self from others or neglecting responsibilities. One may also find himself indulging in the excessive use of alcohol or drugs or smoking cigarettes in order to relax.
The more -signs and symptoms you notice in yourself the closer you may be to stress overload. Keep in mind that these signs mentioned above can be caused by other psychological and medical problems. If you are experiencing any of warning signs of stress mentioned above, it is important that you see a doctor for full evaluation. Your doctor can help you determine weather or not your symptoms are stress related.
Response of stress: Psychologist Connie Lillas uses a driving analogy to describe the three most common ways people respond when they are overwhelmed by stress. First is the foot on the gas (acceleration) approach. This is an angry agitated stress response. You are heated up, keyed up, overtly emotional and unable to sit still. The second is foot on the break approach. This is a withdrawn and depressed stress response. You shut down, space out and show very little energy or emotion. The third approach is foot on both. This is a tense and frozen stress response. You freeze under pressure and cannot do anything. You look paralyzed but under the surface you are agitated. Here are few questions to answer to enable you access your control of stress.
Am I in control of stress or is stress controlling me?
When I feel agitated do I know how to quickly calm and sooth myself?
Can I easily let go of my anger?
Can I turn to others at work to help me calm down and feel better?
Am I seldom disturbed or moody?
Am I able to recognize upsets that others seem to be experiencing?
Do I easily go to friends or family members for a calming influence?
When my energy is low do I know how to boost it?
If you can answer yes to most of these questions you are probably in control of stress.
Coping with Stress: It may seem there is nothing you can do about your stress level. The bills won’t stop coming. There would never be more hours in the day for all your errands and your career responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you think. Infact the simple realization that you are in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life with time of work, relationships with people, relaxation and fun, plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.
Identifying the sources of stress.
Stress management starts with identifying. The sources .of stress in your life. This is not as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress are not always obvious and it is all too easy to overlook your own stress including thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
To identify your true source of stress look closely at your habits, attitudes and excuses. Do you explain away stress as temporary, saying “I have a million things I am doing right now” even though you cannot explain the last time you took a breather? Do you explain stress away as temporary talking of how much you have to do right now, even though you cannot explain the last time you took a break? Do you dismiss stress by saying that “it is always crazy around me” or regarding it as a part of your personality, claiming you have a lot of nervous energy that’s all? Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional? Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.
Again thanks be to God who has provided a way for us to cope with every stressor in our lives. According to the scriptures in Matt. 6:25. Jesus said “Therefore I say unto you take no thought for your life what you shall eat or what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment? (V. 26) “behold the fowls of the air they sow not neither do they reap, nor yet gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feedeth them, are you not much better than they?” He went on to provide the answer in Matt. 6:35 “seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. So commit thy way unto the lord, trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass (Psalms 37:5).
