STRESS!!!

I have been under a lot of stress these past few months so I decided to do a blog about just that-stress. I have been under a lot of it worrying about finances and family issues. I have actually been to the hospital because of stress and anxiety last week. I was put on meds because of it and hopefully I will be able to go see a counselor soon to get more help with this. A lot of people criticize me for taking meds to help with it because they say you can control it on your own. I guess I am not that strong or whatever because I tried handling it on my own and it didn’t help.

Stress is a normal, physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense this danger, the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight or flight” reaction, better known as the stress response. This response is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly it stays focused, energetic, and alert. These responses are the ones that make you slam on the brakes to avoid an accident, and are also responsible for giving you extra strength to defend yourself. Stress is also responsible for keeping you on your toes during a presentation at work, and also drives you to study for an exam when you’d rather be watching television. But beyond a certain point, stress starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life. Stress doesn’t know the difference between physical threats and psychological threats. No matter what threat it is, stress causes your body to react the same. Rather it is stressing over bills, an argument with a friend, or being held at gun point. Your stress response is turned on at these times and the more it is “on” the harder it is to turn “off”. Long term stress exposure can lead to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, suppressed immune system, increase risk of heart attack and stroke. It can also contribute to infertility and speed up the aging process, as well as it can “rewire” the brain leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Several de-stressing ideas include: taking a vacation, listening to music, read a good book, sleep, get a massage, and sexual relations.
Take a vacation: Even if it is just a drive through the country, just get away.
Listen to music: Listening to music gets you focused on the sound and you forget everything else for a little while.
Read a good book: Reading a good book is a good way to take a “vacation” without leaving the house.
Sleep: Having too little or too much sleep can put you in a bad mood and make you stressed.
Get a massage: A massage is a good way to relieve muscle tension.
Sexual Relation: Lovemaking sessions can relieve tension.