Stress

We all feel it. We live with stress almost everyday of our lives. Stress has become part of our fast paced culture here in the tri-state area. Most people feel stress but don't know exactly what it is. So, here it is: *Stress is an event or a series of events that leads to a strain in your life which can lead to Physical and/or psychological health problems. The truth is we can't live a stress free life but we can manage our stress to live a healthy lifestyle.

 I always get asked the question- Is there such a thing as good stress? The answer is yes. Stress provides us with the necessary motivation to strive for our best, to reach our full potential. A certain amount of stress can help you reach your goals and help you solve problems. Almost every day we deal with frustrations, conflicts, pressures and change. Some days have more stress then others. We can also have positive changes that can add stress to our lives. An example woould be getting a promotion/raise at your job. Your excited and deserving of your new position but now you have more pressure and responsibilities. Your new position can cause you to be happy and fearful all at the same time.

If stress continues for months you could start to feel the effects of stress both physically and psychologically. Here are some symptoms of severe and/or chronic stress:

Loneliness

Insecurity

Loss of focus, concentration and memory

Fatigue

Trouble sleeping

Mood swings and irritability

Loss of appetite.

If you are having some of these symptoms, then you should start listening to your body. We recieve these signs from our body. It's a sign to let us know "something is wrong, you need to make changes". If you feel it's time to make a change, here are some tips to help:

1. Mind - Body connection - listen to your body.

2. Figure out why you are having so much stress in your life? What is the reason behind your stress? Be honest with yourself.

3. How can you make change(s) in your life that will make you feel better?

4. Are you expectations realistic? Are you expecting perfection?

It's important to always listen to your body and trust your instincts. Your body knows when it needs a break- take it!

* From I never knew I had a choice by Gerald Corey and Marianne Schneider Corey