A little stress is not a bad thing. We all know people who do their best work under pressure … who need deadlines to avoid procrastination. Stress is a basic part of daily living, and it can be motivating or exhilarating.
But chronic stress, similar to chronic pain, can impact every level of our lives. Without a healthy release from this tension, the effects build up and may begin to appear as physical, mental or emotional symptoms. The cost of stressful living is personally and socially staggering:
* One-third of Americans feel they are living with extreme stress
* One-half believe their stress has increased over the last 5 years
* Almost half of all Americans report they have overeaten, consumed unhealthy foods or skipped a meal because of stress during the last month
* Two-thirds of smokers report they smoke more when stressed
* More than half of employees in a recent survey felt they were less productive when stressed; and
* 75 percent of the same surveyed group reported experiencing physical symptoms when stressed, often causing them to miss scheduled work time.
Chronic stress symptoms may sneak up on the individual; sometimes the symptoms are attributed to other issues, like fatigue; at other times, the individual may believe that they are just “prone to” headaches or diarrhea. The same source and level of strain may cause completely different reactions in each of us. The sooner the stress is recognized and treated or resolved, the quicker we get relief and the less likely we are to develop more serious conditions like depression, high blood pressure or heart disease.
Everyone experiences stress differently and everyone copes with stress differently. Some of us have learned to cope in healthy ways, such as walking away from an argument rather than losing our self- control. This strategy is not denial or avoidance; it allows time to respond in a clear-headed manner rather than reacting emotionally. Others may cope in ways that are far less healthy, such as uncontrollable outbursts, excessive alcohol use, or aggressive driving. When the reaction to stress is self-defeating, self-destructive, and/or hurtful to others, the coping strategy is unhealthy.
The good news? Coping skills are learned behaviors; generally, our coping mechanisms are based on behaviors we observed in others as we grew up or habits we developed on our own as we matured. We can choose to learn new and healthier coping skills.
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But chronic stress, similar to chronic pain, can impact every level of our lives. Without a healthy release from this tension, the effects build up and may begin to appear as physical, mental or emotional symptoms. The cost of stressful living is personally and socially staggering:
* One-third of Americans feel they are living with extreme stress
* One-half believe their stress has increased over the last 5 years
* Almost half of all Americans report they have overeaten, consumed unhealthy foods or skipped a meal because of stress during the last month
* Two-thirds of smokers report they smoke more when stressed
* More than half of employees in a recent survey felt they were less productive when stressed; and
* 75 percent of the same surveyed group reported experiencing physical symptoms when stressed, often causing them to miss scheduled work time.
Chronic stress symptoms may sneak up on the individual; sometimes the symptoms are attributed to other issues, like fatigue; at other times, the individual may believe that they are just “prone to” headaches or diarrhea. The same source and level of strain may cause completely different reactions in each of us. The sooner the stress is recognized and treated or resolved, the quicker we get relief and the less likely we are to develop more serious conditions like depression, high blood pressure or heart disease.
Everyone experiences stress differently and everyone copes with stress differently. Some of us have learned to cope in healthy ways, such as walking away from an argument rather than losing our self- control. This strategy is not denial or avoidance; it allows time to respond in a clear-headed manner rather than reacting emotionally. Others may cope in ways that are far less healthy, such as uncontrollable outbursts, excessive alcohol use, or aggressive driving. When the reaction to stress is self-defeating, self-destructive, and/or hurtful to others, the coping strategy is unhealthy.
The good news? Coping skills are learned behaviors; generally, our coping mechanisms are based on behaviors we observed in others as we grew up or habits we developed on our own as we matured. We can choose to learn new and healthier coping skills.
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