Is Stress bad?
Author: DrJeffBailey Total views: 13 Word Count: 570
Many people worry about whether they are stressed. This often occurs because their partners tell them that they are stressed out. When you hear words like relax and cool it, you start to worry that you are stressed. Do you know what causes stress and anxiety?
Sometimes there is truth in the comments that people are making about you. Different personalities react in different ways to being organized and worrying about detail. Just because you are conscientious doesn't mean that you are stressed out.
If you believe that you have a certain personality type, you can actually have your personality tested. There are many tests that do this, the most common one being the Myer-Briggs. You have probably heard about Type A and B personalities. Friedman, a cardiologist, saw many people with heart conditions and he called them Type As.
We are stressed when a range of activities (stressors) in our daily lives present us with challenges, alternatives, decisions, complex or unpleasant events or interactions. From a technical point of view, a stressor is something that speeds up our reaction or response levels. Our body has been conditioned to fight or flee. Our physiological response is to pump adrenaline or cortisol into our system to prepare us for the challenges.
What stressors cause you the most problem? A typical list includes complex and high paced lifestyle, boredom, financial difficulties, and relationship problems. Perhaps there are health problems in your family that worry you. Perhasps your relationship is breaking down?
Everyone experiences stress. Some psychologists believe that stress can be good for you but only in small doses. There is a positive stress which is called eustress. Distress creates significant emotional and physical discomfort. If stress last for a long time, the negative effects can be dangerous.
When stress is positive (this is called eustress) we are motivated and/or compelled to act. When we respond to a horror movie, when we are excited into action by new productivity or sales targets at work, when we think about a particularly exciting date, when we compete in a track or field event, and even when we get ready for a picnic we are experiencing positive stress. Our body is getting pumped up and is responding psychologically, emotionally and physically to this new event so that we can perform at a high level. All of this is good; positive stress builds up our energy levels and our readiness to perform at a higher level and to respond to the stimulus event.
When stress is negative, we talk about being stressed out, over-stressed, even burnt out. In these instances, the stressor is far too great for us to respond in a positive and effective way. Our body responds with headaches, stomach upsets, elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Some people get blotchy skin and rashes. Some get ulcers, heart disease and even suffer strokes or die. From a psychological point of view, typical responses to chronic stress include anxiety, phobias, diminished self-assurance, dysthymia (mild depression), clinical depression, anger, obsessive thought disorders and, unfortunately, thoughts of suicide.
Unfortunately very few people have been lucky enough to be taught practical and effective stress management strategies. In order to be able to reduce the stress in our lives, we need information and strategies. Both must have an evidence base so that we are reading accurate information and using well proven and effective strategies for stress management and reduction.
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About the Author
Dr Jeff, psychologist, helps stressed patients. Why tolerate stress? Learn stress management skills now. Click here for the free What is Stress by Dr Jeff. Don't waste another minute stressed and burnt out. Get moving - learn how to relieve stress. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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