Stress can occur anywhere at work, school, college, at home or in our relationships.  It is the body's physical, emotional and psychological response to any demand on the self.  Stress is perceived and experienced emotionally when there is a pressure or urgency to respond and where it causes mental strain.  It  is connected primitively to the body's 'fight or flight' response.  Essentially, when we perceive danger, we have a physiological response  - adrenalin and hydro-cortisone is released and some of the biological mechanisms are shut down to preserve energy for potential a 'fight or flight' response.  When the danger or challenge has passed the body returns to normal - the muscles relax, the hands become dry, the stomach unwinds and the heart rate and blood pressure return to a normal rate. 

If stress is managed effectively and is short term, it is not necessarily bad for you.  Some examples of how positive stress can be productive are: 

• It can be a good motivator.
• It may feel exciting.
• It can improve productivity and performance (sports competitors).
• It can improve physical and mental fitness.
• It focuses energy.
• It can sharpen the mind.

However, if a stressful event continues long-term there can be many negative physiological, psychological and emotional consequences and it becomes distress.  Some of these consequences are listed below:

• It can dangerously suppress the immune system.
• Drain energy reserves.
• Can cause depression.
• Continue to get worse over time rather than diminish.
• Lead to physical and mental health problems. Physical complaints can include: asthma, angina, high blood pressure, irritable bowel and peptic ulcer, to name a few.
• Change the way we think, distort our cognitions and thus have a 'knock on' effect on behavioural responses.
• Burnout
• Anxiety Disorders
• Disturbed sleep

From time to time everyone experiences stress, it is part of everyday life and most people live a lifestyle which incorporates a 'medium' level of stress.  It only becomes a problem when stress escalates beyond this level for a long period of time, everyone reacts differently to the levels they can endure, until ultimately they reach 'burn out'.   Since everyone deals with their experiences differently it is almost impossible to state what will make stress unmanageable.  It is important to remember that stress can be experienced anywhere - at home, at work, at school, in relationships or many other personal circumstances.  That said it some typical factors it can be attributed to are:

• Too many changes in any area of life.
• Having too high expectations of the self.
• For having or taking on too much responsibility or too many responsibilities.
• Too much information (information overload) at any one time.

Timing is crucial, if stresses all manifest at the same time they may become unmanageable, when they could have been managed effectively if they had presented one at a time and resolved in-between.  How a person experiences a stressful event will effect how they are able to deal with subsequent stresses, failure to cope with a stressful event will lead to feelings of future stresses being more difficult than they are.  Ultimately a persons perception of stress will determine their recovery and the effects of the demands made on them.  With the use of resources and careful stress management people can take back control, recover and deal with potential future stresses effectively.  If you have any concerns or would like further information, please contact us.

The Emotional Needs Audit  - follow this link to assess how well your emotional needs are being met in your life, now.

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