EACH OF US EXPERIENCES STRESS DIFFERENTLY AND HOW IT AFFECTS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WILL BE UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.

Stress is a normal part of life, with both positive and negative impacts.

Each of us experiences stress differently and how it affects physical and mental health will be unique to each individual.

Sustained stress can become overwhelming, damaging health and negatively impacting professional and personal life. There are many techniques to minimise the effects of stress and stop it becoming chronic, so recognising the signs and symptoms of chronic stress and taking remedial action is crucial.

This month we take a closer look at stress management, highlighting the symptoms, exploring the main causes and providing some tips on effectively dealing with stress.

STRESS

What is stress?

Stress is the body’s way of reacting to a physical, mental, or emotional demand or threat. The source of the stress may be external (environmental factors, personal relationships) or internal (excessive worry, pessimistic thinking), and the impact on the body may be positive and negative.
When an individual experiences stress, their body reacts by releasing chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine into the blood, preparing the individual for action. This reaction is called the fight-or-flight reaction or the stress response.

When experiencing a fight-or-flight reaction an individual’s

Heart rate will increase
Muscles will tense
Blood pressure will rise
Breathing will become accelerated
Senses will become more focused

This kind of stress is often beneficial, for example if an individual finds themselves in a dangerous situation. In most cases the impact will be temporary, and the body will return to normal after a short period of time.

However, when the body remains in stress response state over a long period of time an individual may experience chronic stress, creating or aggravating more serious health problems.

Did you know?
Stress releases powerful neurochemicals and hormones that prepare our bodies for action

Know your stress limit

How much stress is too much stress will differ for each individual. Some people will be able to cope with and even thrive on high stress situations, while others will struggle to cope and experience stress when faced with everyday tasks.

As the impact of chronic stress can be so damaging to overall health, it is important that each of us understands our stress tolerance and remains cognisant of our limits.

Factors that influence stress tolerance include:

Having confidence in your own abilities
Having a robust support network
Having a positive and open outlook on life
Having the ability to deal with your emotions