Stress Success Quickies
STRESS SUCCESS QUICKIES by Helaine Z. Harris, MA, MFT
Doesn’t Stress Success seem like an oxymoron to you? It sure did to me, at first!
Keeping up with modern life is often complicated by the very technological advances and other conveniences that are meant to streamline our day, often creating even more havoc than we had before. We have the pressure of a tumultuous economy, and with the stock market and housing prices dropping, the stress factor has been increasing for many. It seems like stress has become a way of life. It is true that in small doses stress can motivate you and help you perform under pressure such as preparing for a presentation or studying for exams, however on a long-term basis, it creates a multitude of problems.
Now is the time to bring your mind and body back into balance instead of being overwhelmed and stuck. You can protect yourself from the more severe effects of stress by first recognizing the symptoms and signs and then taking action to implement some healthier choices for yourself.
What is Stress? With either a real or perceived threat, your body automatically goes into the stress-induced response, the “fight-or-flight” response. When this occurs, your body responds by automatically increasing your metabolism, heart rate and blood pressure, as well as releasing a flood of stress hormones into your body.
The stress response is your body’s way of protecting you so in time of emergency, you stay focused, alert and energetic to save your life or protect your family.
Chronic Stress The problem is our body is not capable of distinguishing between physical and