Stress Management - Part II
Following is a more specific list of symptoms which have all been proven to be stress-related. Many of these symptoms may be caused by organic illnesses, but they are also symptoms of excessive stress. In the absence of the confirmed diagnosis of an organic malady, consider the possibility that excessive stress may be the cause of these symptoms.
- General irritability, hyperexcitation, or depression.
- Pounding of the heart (high blood pressure symptom).
- Dryness of the throat and mouth.
- Impulsive behavior, emotional instability.
- The overpowering urge to cry, or run and hide.
- Inability to concentrate, flight of thoughts, and general disorientation.
- Feelings of unreality, weakness, or dizziness.
- Predilection to become fatigued, and loss of the "joie de vivre" (the joy of life).
- "Floating anxiety," a generalized sense of apprehension without a focus.
- Emotional tension and alertness; a feeling of being "keyed up."
- Trembling, and nervous tics (involuntary muscle twitches, usually in the facial area).
- Tendency to become easily startled by inconsequential stimuli.
- High pitched, nervous laughter.
- Stuttering, and other speech difficulties.
- Bruxism (grinding the teeth, especially at night).
- Insomnia.
- Hypermotility; excessive activity in the stomach and intestines.
- Excessive sweating without physical exertion.
- The frequent need to urinate.
- Diarrhea, indigestion, queasiness in the stomach, and vomiting.
- Migraine headaches.
- Premenstrual tension or missed menstrual cycles.
- Pain in the neck or lower back.
- Loss of appetite or compulsive eating.
- Increased smoking.
- Increased use of legally prescribed drugs, such as tranquilizers or stimulants.
- Alcohol and drug abuse or addiction.
- Nightmares.
- Psychoses.
- Accident proneness.
Important Information: If you are concerned about your stress level, or if you have one or more of these symptoms and aren't sure if it is a problem - the first step is to seek the advice of your physician. Once medical concerns are eliminated, or under control, the next step is to seek counseling from a psychotherapist especially knowledgeable about stress.
Are you stressed? (Answer these to yourself, they are NOT quiz questions!)
1. Are you having difficulty focusing during class or while completing a task?
2. Have you been feeling ill or experiencing a low level illness that seems to hang around?
3. Changes in sleeping may include having difficulty sleeping or sleeping a lot.
4. Headaches could be a sign of stress.
5. Frequent diarrhea or upset stomach
6. Seem to be sweating more the usual.
7. Do you often skip class or have excessive absenteeism.
8. Has your personal appearance suffered; hygiene changed?
9. Are you easily irritated?
10. A desire to urinate; frequent trips to the bathroom.
Stress affects you physically, emotionally, and mentally. When you are stressed even the people or things you once enjoyed can lose their appeal. It is a fact of life. Stress is a natural response.
Although sometimes we talk about eliminating stress, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS LIVING A STRESS-FREE LIFE. Some stress can be eliminated but most stress is minimized.
Did you create the stress in your mind?
Sometimes things happen beyond our control. What is in your control is how you choose to respond. When the teacher decides to give a quiz that was not originally assigned, you can choose to stay cool. Studying each week and following each class can minimize the effects of a surprise quiz or a forgotten test. Sometimes we react fearfully to situations and we start thinking of various negative outcomes. This can result in stress. Fear is about future events; things that have not yet happened.
Did you choose a stressful activity? ch as skydiving or policing. This is when minimizing the stress is the focus. When you are involved in a stressful activity, awareness is on what are the parts that bring you stress. Talking with others can often help us learn ways to deal with the stress. Stressful e to a stressful event can help to minimize the stress by providing you with a sense of control. Completing certain tasks can be stressful, such as homework. Try to break the task up into smaller tasks. Choosing stressful activities exposes us to stress. Stress can be minimized by limiting our exposure.
Did you cause the stress by not completing a task or responding responsibly?
Unpaid bills cause a lot in some people’s lives. Some people find it difficult to pay bills in a timely manner because the task is not always pleasurable. However, the late charges don't or collection calls result in more stress. Following through on these tasks can eliminate this type of stress. Take care of the things that need to be taken care of. Remember the golden rule: Don't put off for tomorrow what can be done today.
The following are ALL signs of stress: general irritability, hyperexcitation, or depression; pounding of the heart (high blood pressure symptom); dryness of the throat and mouth; impulsive behavior, emotional instability; and the overpowering urge to cry, or run and hide?