WHAT IS STRESS?

Stress is a person’s physical and emotional response to change.  Stress allows us to respond and adapt to our environment.  The time taken to adapt to the change determines whether the stress is:

• Acute stress – calls for an immediate reaction to change that is judge to be
  threatening (stressor).  Adjusting to the change takes only a short time.

• Chronic stress – results from changes that are not addressed.  This lack of action leaves the body in a state of heightened awareness or tension.

If all stressors were acute, then stress would not be such a critical issue in modern society.  People would simply respond and adjust to immediate threats, and then they would return to normal.

Unfortunately, most stressors in modern society do not allow people to respond and adjust quickly.  Dealing with daily job stress, ongoing financial pressures, and dysfunctional long-term relationships at home or at work usually cause chronic stress for the people experiencing them.   Living in chronic stress, the person’s body lives in a heightened state of awareness and tension, which can lead to:

• Cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke
• A suppressed immune system
• Slow wound-healing
• Herpes outbreak
• Irritable bowel syndrome attacks
• Decreased sex drive and impotency
• Asthma attacks
• Ulcers
• Blood pressure elevations
• Increased chronic pain
• Psychosomatic complaints

What causes stress?

• Life events such as divorce, loss of a loved one, birth of a child, moving, getting a new job, financial setbacks or windfalls.
• Daily events such as traffic congestion, long commute, working overtime, deadlines, personal conflicts, car trouble, job stress, household chores, childcare.
• Environmental stressors such as excessive noise, weather extremes.
• Physical stressors such as physical injury, chronic pain, hunger, thirst, lack of sleep.
• Genetic predisposition
• Inability to adapt; lack of coping skills
• Age – both young and old experience more stress.
• Personality and perspective
• Isolation

What are the symptoms of stress?

• Changes in sleeping patterns (sleeping too little or too much)
• Change in eating (overeating or not eating enough)
• Nightmares
• Decreased interest in sex; impotency
• Teeth grinding
• Irritability or impatience
• Crying over minor incidents
• Dreading going to work
• Headaches or stomach aches
• Increased muscular tension in such places as the jaw, neck, back or shoulders
• Digestive problems
• Shallow breathing or sighing
• Cold or sweaty palms

If you would like to talk to a counselor about the stress(es) in your life – at home or in the workplace – call to set an appointment at 972-960-9981 or email a message including your name and contact information to kstephens@christian-works.org .