Stress—Controlling
It Before It Controls You, Part 1
The Better Life Experts |
September 23, 2008
Stress – what is stress?
We think of stress in basically two ways — the pressure we experience from
external sources, and the internal experience that we feel when pressure is
placed upon us. For our purposes in this series, we will be referring to
stress as the way we experience pressure and how we respond to it.
Stress, as we experience it, is a common physiological reaction to pressure,
strain, anxiety, constant worry and tension. Everyone experiences stress –
it is part of our biology. The human nervous system is complex and many
factors affect the ways in which the parasympathetic (relaxation) and
sympathetic (fight or flight) structures interact. We can quite literally
make ourselves sick from stress, especially if it remains uncontrolled and
untreated. Your body cannot force you to deal with stress in the most
obvious sense, but it can make you aware of “system errors” through varied
means.
Stress in the workplace and stress at home. . . . It is important to
recognize and acknowledge your stress before you lose your job or personal
relationships due to major health issues or inappropriate behavioral
responses.
What are some physiological reactions to stress?
Headaches
Fatigue
High Blood Pressure
Weakened immune system (increase in colds, flu, etc)
Heart attacks
Strokes
Blood sugar fluctuations
What are some common behavioral responses to stress?
Throughout this series on stress, we will “lump” behavior into three
categories and discuss some characteristics that are commonly found in each
behavioral category. We will examine coping strategies and find ways to
modify and improve responses through the use of lifestyle change.
The Aggressor, the Denier, the Withdrawer – which
one are you?
Characteristics of the Aggressor:
Tends to take stress/anger out on others
Can be physical – throwing things, hitting objects (or people/animals),
slamming doors
Verbally attacks self and others; finds fault and blames others
Extreme irritability
Shows poor judgment under stress
Characteristics of the Denier:
Fails to acknowledge there is stress
Experiences increased energy, activity and restlessness
Has racing thoughts, jumps from one idea to another and talks fast
Denies that anything is wrong; only sees the positive side to a
situation
Uses poor judgment
Engages in thrill seeking behavior
Intrusive behavior (doesn’t respect other people’s boundaries)
Keeps a tight lid on feelings; reactions are often not in line with what
other people reveal or admit to feeling
Characteristics of the Withdrawer:
Attempts to reduce or remove stressful feelings through escapism
Tends to feel depressed
Shuts down and retreats from people, activities or relationships
Retreats as a means of control and establishing a safety net
Assumes passive role
Becomes sedentary and secretive
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