Modern life is full of time pressure and frustration. In other words, itís stressful. Racing against deadlines, sitting in traffic, arguing with your spouse ñ all these make your body react as if you were facing a physical threat. This reaction gave early humans the energy to fight aggressors or run from predators. It helped the species survive, but today it is the main cause of absence from work. Sona, one of Europeís leading experts in the provision of positive health services, is urging people to listen to their bodies and recognise signs of stress so they can lessen the impact on their health.
Dr Sabine Donnai of Sona comments, Today, the stress or the fight-or-flight response has outlived most of its evolutionary purpose. Instead of protecting you, it may, if constantly activated, make you more vulnerable to life-threatening health problems. Fortunately, though, you can develop skills to avoid some stressors and limit the effects of others. The payoff includes less fatigue, more peace of mind and ñ perhaps ñ a longer, healthier life.
Your fight-or-flight reaction occurs automatically when you feel threatened, which releases hormones into your bloodstream. They are designed to focus concentration, speed your reaction time, and increase your strength and agility. However, long-term activation of the stress-response system can disrupt almost all your bodyís processes. Stress kick-starts a chain reaction of effects which include increasing your risk of obesity, insomnia, digestive complaints, heart disease and depression. It targets every system in the body and makes it react in different ways.
Your reaction to a specific stressor is different from anyone elseís, concludes Dr Sabine Donnai. Some people are naturally laid-back about almost everything, while others react strongly at the slightest hint of stress ñ and most fall somewhere between those extremes. However an individual reacts, it is important for everyone to manage the levels of stress in their life, for the good of their general, health, happiness and wellbeing. If stress is getting the better of you and you fear its long-term effects, donít be afraid to seek help. You may not find a quick or permanent fix, but in time, youíll recognize the signs that pressure is building and learn the best ways to lighten the load.
Sonaís top tips for reducing the effects of stress
Stress develops when the demands in your life exceed your ability to cope with them. It follows, then, that you can manage stress by:
Changing your environment so that the demands arenít so high.
Learning how to better cope with the demands in your environment.
If you have persistent trouble relaxing, consider taking up meditation or studying yoga or tai chi, Eastern disciplines said to focus your mind, calm your anxieties and release your physical tension. Therapeutic massage may also loosen taut muscles and calm frazzled nerves.
Shift your outlook. In many cases, simply choosing to look at situations in a more positive way can reduce the amount of stress in your life.
Step back from the conflict or worry thatís put you in knots and ask what part of it is troubling you most. Are you afraid of losing face? If so, would it really be that bad? Are you angry or frustrated to the point of losing self-control? If so, is your reaction out of proportion?
Take a break, talk to someone close and get a different perspective on your troubles.
Look after your body. To handle stress, your body requires a healthy diet and adequate rest.
Exercise also helps, by distracting you from stressful events and releasing your nervous energy.
Learn to relax. Itís the polar opposite of the stress response. Deep-breathing exercises may put you in a relaxed state
Get help. On your own, you may have limited success trying to change the habitual patterns of thought and behaviour that trigger your stress response. Psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed clinical social workers are trained to help you break free of these patterns.
Leading positive health services provider Sona offers an insight into stress
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