Manage Your Everyday and Holiday Stress

Stress is the manner on how your body reacts to some changes, may it be internal or external. There are also some elements from nature which affects an individual....


Because of the accumulation of stress in our lives, we usually treat stress negatively. However, stress can be both positive and negative.

Almost 75 percent of the American population experience stress and suffer every two weeks.

It is also believed that stress contributes to heart diseases, high blood pressure, strokes, and many other diseases. In addition, this affects our immune system, the system that protects us from other serious diseases.

Many circumstances may cause you to be stressed. You just have to identify them so you can create steps in order to adapt to the situation. These causes are called stressors. They can be physically, emotionally, internal or external produced stressors.

An example of this is your physical condition, if you are experiencing pain, hot or cold temperature, etc. Stressful environments like poor working condition or foul relationships can also be a cause of stress.

Other factors that may cause stress are the following:

- Uneven noise
- Crowded room
- Loneliness or separation from a partner
- Hunger
- Infection

Now, if stress is the result of the changes that are happening in our body then we cannot avoid it. But what can we do? One very important thing is that we should know its symptoms. You will never know that you are already suffering from it if you do not know what the indications are.

Listed below are the symptoms of stress.

Physically you will experience:

- Heart pounding
- Headache
- Sweating and sweaty palms
- Stiff neck
- Indigestion
- Backache
- Skin break out
- Upset stomach such as nausea or diarrhea
- Shortness of breathing
- Sleeplessness/sleeping too much
- Fatigue
- Cold hands

Emotionally you can easily:

- Become moody and irritable
- Lose your temper very often
- Feel depressed
- Lack of sense of humor
- Feel nervous
- Feel inferior of what you have
- Worry too much about unimportant matters

And mentally you are:

- Forgetful
- Confused
- Having poor of judgment
- Disorganize
- Unclear perceptions

Knowing that we cannot really avoid stress it is important that we know the symptoms. Now, in order to lessen our stress we should learn how to manage it. Here are some tips in reducing stress.

1. Do yourself a favor and buy something that will give you comfort.

2. Keep yourself busy doing more enjoyable activities.

3. Learn to moderate your physical reactions to stress.

4. If necessary, take a nature trip that will really help you feel more relaxed.

5. After busy working days, treat yourself to a vacation.

6. Take a short break after every meal to relax.

7. Always wear clothes that are comfortable to you whenever possible.

8. Express yourself, avoid being too secretive about what you feel.

9. Eat well-balanced and nutritious meals.

If you feel you are experiencing stress, do not be afraid to follow the above tips. They are not risky; instead, they can help with your condition.

And bear in mind; take care of yourself because you are the only person who will suffer if you abuse yourself from too much stress. Remember stress can be a cause of many life-threatening diseases. So, in order to avoid that, please be gentle with yourself.