Stress: How to De-Stress without Doing Less Read Online Free PDF

stress levels are getting near that ‘crisis’ limit?
    People differ in what first makes them realize there is a problem, but often it takes something reaching that crisis point before they start to do something about their stress. For some people it is a physical problem. Any doctor will tell you that many of the issues they see have their root in stress. Headaches, stomach pains, sexual problems, more serious issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or heart problems – all these can be a wake-up call that we need to do something about our stress levels. Other people find that it is the emotional load that starts to push them over. Living constantly on the edge is exhausting and has an inevitable impact on our relationships, moods and emotions, and also on our ability to concentrate and perform effectively at work. Many people find that their stress suddenly brings them to aplace where they become frightened that they simply will not be able to cope any longer and suddenly feel they are at very real risk of becoming a statistic of burn-out. If you recognize something of yourself in this chapter but haven’t got to that point yet, fantastic! This is your chance to do something about your stress levels before they push you over the edge. If you have reached that point, then remember that you are not alone. Succumbing to stress is not a sign of weakness but a sign of being human. Your next challenge is to look at what it is in your life that has made you vulnerable to stress, so that you can protect yourself in the future.

4 The physical impact of stress
    So far we’ve seen that stress is a physical reality as well as something that affects our emotions. It is much more than the kind of ‘it’s all in your mind’ issue we often think it might be. Stress is something that, no matter how clever, resourceful or amazing we are, will affect us in some way because it is part of being alive. But what kind of problems can stress actually cause?
    The problems caused by stress all stem from the fact that our stress system was actually designed to respond to short-term stress. Our bodies were simply not designed to operate with the levels of these hormones becoming raised over long periods of times. This is why chronic stress causes so many problems. It affects a vast array of different body systems and actions, with an impact that is often very complex and different for every individual. Chronic stress can affect a bewildering range of physical functions and has been linked to all kinds of illnesses, syndromes, signs and symptoms.
    Physical issues related to stress
    In some ways, the most serious physical results of stress are those that build up over time. The system that is most affected is the cardiovascular system – the heart and all thearteries and veins that carry blood to and from the muscles and organs that the heart supplies with blood. Stress stimulates the body to supply more blood to the major muscles, while organs – for example, those responsible for digestion – receive less blood. All this involves changes to the way the heart pumps, as well as changes to the blood vessels themselves. The bad news is that long-term stress stimulation of this system causes our blood pressure to rise (in an equally chronic, long-term way) as the vessels struggle to cope with the extra blood rushing through. It triggers changes in the way the heart muscle works, meaning that there is an increased risk of unusual or irregular beats. As if that weren’t enough, chronic stress can also increase the risk of developing narrowing of the arteries (made all the worse, of course, if we tend to have a diet that is high in cholesterol and ‘bad’ fats). Chronic stress has, therefore, been linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and stroke. Acute stress can also trigger symptoms in these areas, bringing on conditions such as angina and chest